\ 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY Of 
 CALIFORNIA 
 
 I 
 
THE FIGURE CROWNING THE PEDESTAL OF 
 THE BRANT MONUMENT. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA: 
 
 AN 
 
 HISTORICO-MILITARY DRAMA. 
 
 BY J. B. MACKENZIE 
 
 MEMBER or THE ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 "The Six-Nations Indians in Canada. " 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR BY 
 
 WILLIAM BRIGGS 
 
 TORONTO 
 
 I8 9 8 
 
Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one 
 thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, by J. B. MACKENZIE, at the 
 Department of Agriculture. 
 
WDU 
 
 TO THE 
 
 Reverend TTCUlUam Clarfc, dfc.B., XX.H)., 
 
 Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy, in the University of 
 Trinity College, Toronto : 
 
 WHOSE FRIENDLY ENCOURAGEMENT 
 
 GRACE ACCORDED ONLY AFTER HIS, AN EXPERT'S, SCRUTINY 
 OF A PORTION OF TUB TIMBER BEING USED 
 
 EXTENDED TO THE AUTHOR, WHILST IT WAS AS YET 
 REPOSING ON THE STOCKS, 
 
 EMBOLDENS HIM TO TEST THE SEA- WORTHINESS 
 
 OF THE THIN-RIBBED CRAFT, NOW LAUNCHED 
 
 ON THE CHOPPY BILLOWS OF LATTER-DAY CRITICISM, 
 
 THE DRAMA OF THAYENDANEGEA 
 
 IS INSCRIBED. 
 
 457 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 I AVAIL myself of an introduction mainly to record 
 the motives which led me to compose this poem. 
 
 I formed the opinion, first, that it was the bounden 
 duty of someone to enter the breach, in order to rid 
 the situation of the singular not to say affronting 
 anomaly to be traced through the circumstance of the 
 character and actions of Tecumseh having enlisted 
 the machinery of the drama for their attractive 
 exposition, whilst those of the earlier companion 
 upholder of British supremacy on the continent 
 one endowed with a many-sided capacity, plainly 
 denied to the other (barely his compeer even in the 
 way of military distinction) one who acquired equal 
 celebrity for his bearing in the martial camp, beside 
 the Council-fire, and in the field of diplomacy, 
 remain unchapleted by any memorial tribute ten- 
 dered him of the kind. 
 
 I believed, again, that no more efficacious no 
 more convincing method of refuting the charges 
 of barbarity freely fabricated by American his- 
 torians against Brant, could be practised than the 
 bringing in request, so to speak, Thespis' undistorting 
 camera, to imprint a few of those occurrences, which 
 as a component part of the portraiture designed to 
 be revealed exhibit him as a foeman who ; while 
 ceasing at no time, perhaps, to inspire animosity 
 and dread, was yet, in his treatment of fellow-beings 
 
iv PREFACE. 
 
 weighed down by affliction and suffering dragged, 
 under the heart-breaking empire of War, behind the 
 chariot wheels of an adverse fortune alike generous 
 and humane. 
 
 To dispel the suspicion liable withal to be enter- 
 tained, by those enjoying but cursory acquaintance 
 with his career, that the showing forth of the 
 famous War-captain, in the pages of the drama, 
 exaggerates his eminence that there has been a 
 fictitious gilding of the plate, an over-adorning of 
 the tapestry I invoke the estimate of him voiced by 
 the Hon. Ellis H. Roberts, upon an occasion (the cen- 
 tennial observance of Oriskany) well fitted to awake 
 the slumbering resentment of colonials against all 
 such faithful adherents of the Crown : " superior to St. 
 Leger " (the British Commander) " in natural powers 
 and personal magnetism, was Brant the ideal Indian ; 
 with all the genius of his tribe, and the training 
 gained in Connecticut schools, and in the family of 
 Sir William Johnson : among the Indians he was 
 pre-eminent, and in any circle would have been 
 conspicuous ; " to fortify which, condensing the con- 
 clusion found in Appleton's Cyclopaedia, that, " as 
 a warrior, he was cautious, sagacious, and brave ; 
 as a diplomat and courtier, adroit and accomplished ; 
 while his humanity to a captive or fallen foe is too 
 well established to admit of doubt." 
 
 With a life so brimful of stirring and of pregnant 
 adventure such as Brant's, the difficulty of making 
 a selection of incidents, which should at once, with 
 adequacy, typify the man, and interest and divert 
 
PREFACE. v 
 
 the reader, will, I imagine, be frankly recognized. 
 I can only hope that I have succeeded in presenting 
 my protagonist as a fairly consistent, rationally 
 behaved character. I trust, further, that there have 
 been sketched with a soup$on, at all events, of fidelity, 
 Sir William Johnson, fidua Achates whole-souled, un- 
 selfish (the scope of the production has not permitted 
 a dealing, otherwise than by retrospect, with his in- 
 estimable public services); Colonel Guy Johnson, the 
 no less devoted believer in, than hot-tempered cham- 
 pion of, Monarchy; Major Butler, the efficient military 
 commander, and unerring analyst of Indian nature ; 
 Captain Pouchot, the gifted, incorruptible servant of 
 France; Benedict Arnold valiant, dare-devil the 
 Prince Rupert of the Provincials. 
 
 I consider that it would be unfitting for me to 
 close this preface without the confession that not only 
 was the matured product given an exceptional chance 
 to attain a sounder development, a better growth, 
 through Professor Clark's passing of his critical har- 
 row over the germinal deposit : these have been 
 scarcely less advanced through the willing assistance 
 rendered by Miss Mabel MacLean Helliwell, of the 
 Ontario Historical Society, in the preparation of the 
 notes, and in revising the proofs of the verse ; all 
 her suggestions as to the reshaping of which having 
 served to improve both expression and rhythm. 
 
 I have also to thank Mr. James Bain, Jr., for point- 
 ing me to unsuspected sources of knowledge ; Captain 
 Cruikshank for the loan of MSS. notes ; and Mr. J. O. 
 Brant-Sero for a free imparting of family traditions. 
 
AUTHOR'S ERRATA. 
 
 Page 54, for lines from 353-57 inclusive substitute the 
 
 following : 
 
 1 ' Should the unenvied consignees attempt 
 To board the fleet of bending Indiamzn, 
 Then entering the harbor with their freight, 
 To land the strifeful cargoes. This the pale, 
 Uneasy chapmen venturesome, though scarce " . 9 
 
 Page 59. In statement of time of scene, for "June" read 
 "July." 
 
 Page 92. In announcement of the entrance of characters, for 
 "Captain" read "Captains," and treat the name 
 " Bull " with the conjunction "and " before it as 
 though, instead of following, it had preceded, 
 "Canastota." 
 
 Page 96, line 547 for "unhurled" read "unproved." 
 
DRAMATIS PERSONS. 
 
 THAYENDANEGEA JOSEPH BRANT : SacJiem of the Mo- 
 
 hawks, and Principal War-chief of the Six-Nations ; 
 
 sometime Secretary to COLONEL GUY JOHNSON. 
 SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON : Superintendent of Indian Affairs 
 
 for the Northern district of North America; Colonel, 
 
 afterwards Major-General, on the Colonial establish- 
 ment. 
 JOHN BUTLER : Major, afterwords Colonel, of British 
 
 quasi-regnlars, Commander of "Butler's Rangers" ; 
 
 sometime Interpreter for the Indian department. 
 GUY JOHNSON : Superintendent of Indian Affairs, in 
 
 succession to SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON ; Colonel of 
 
 British Militia. 
 CAPTAIN POUCHOT : Commandant of Fort Niagara, under 
 
 th-e French domination ; Officer of the Royal Regiment 
 
 of Beam. 
 CANASTOTA JOHN MOHAWK : A subordinate chief of the 
 
 Mohawks. 
 
 JOHN PRIDEAUX : Brigadier-General in the British army. 
 EYRE MASSEY : Colonel in the British army. 
 SAMPSON SAMMONS : a yeoman of the Mohawk Valley. 
 NICHOLAS HERKIMER : Brigadier-General of Provincial 
 
 Militia. 
 SIR JOHN JOHNSON : Son, and successor of SIR WILLIAM 
 
 JOHNSON in the baronetcy; Colonel of "Johnson's 
 
 Greens." 
 
 JOHN STUART : Anglican Missionary to the Mohawks. 
 BENEDICT ARNOLD : Major-General, and Commander-in- 
 
 Chief of the armies of the United States of America on 
 
 ttie Mohawk River. 
 
 MARINUS WILLETT : Colonel of Provincials. 
 HON YOST SCHUYLER : a private soldier in "Butler's 
 
 Rangers. " 
 LIEUTENANT BONNAFOUX : Officer of French artillery, 
 
 serving under POUCHOT. 
 
viii DRAMATIS PERSONA; 
 
 KAENDAE : a chief of the Senecas, attached to the French 
 interest. 
 
 SUSPENDED COLLAR : a chief of the Onondagas. 
 
 SANGUERACHTA : a War-chief of the Senecas. 
 
 SIR GUY CARLETON, Governor of Canada, at the outbreak 
 of the Revolution; and a second time, as LORD 
 DORCHESTER, after the pacification. 
 
 SBENEZER Cox, ICHABOD ALDEN : Colonels of Provincials. 
 
 JOHN WOOD : Major of Provincials. 
 
 JOHN McKiNSTRY : Captain of Provincials. 
 
 ALEXANDER HARPER : Lieutenant of Provincials. 
 
 WALTER BUTLER : Lieutenant, afterwards Captain, in 
 "Butler's Rangers." 
 
 WILLIAM TRYON : Governor of the Province of New York 
 before the Revolution. 
 
 DAVID HAMBLE : a yeoman of Cherry Valley. 
 
 JOSEPH WAGGONER : a soldier serving under GENERAL 
 HERKIMER. 
 
 JOHN VEEDER : a yeoman of the Mohawk Valley. 
 
 NICHOLAS SCHUYLER : a yeoman of the Mohawk Valley. 
 
 SUSAN CAMPBELL : a matron of Chtrry Valley. 
 
 ALICE LINDESAY : a matron of Cherry Valley. 
 
 ELIZABETH SCHUYLER : a matron of the Mohawk Valley. 
 
 A CHIEF of the MISSISAKES ; a CHIEF of the POUTEOTAMIES. 
 
 A Herald from SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 
 
 A SPOKESMAN for the ONONDAGAS. 
 
 A SPOKESMAN for the CAYUGAS. 
 
 A SPOKESMAN for IROQUOIS women. 
 
 Mute characters: VAN CAMPEN, PENCE and PIKE, 
 yeomen of the MINISINK : ISAAC BRANT, son of 
 THAYENDANEGEA ; JONCAIRE-CLAUZONNE, a Seneca 
 half-breed, attached to the French interest; CAPTAIN 
 BULL, a Royalist officer. 
 
 Officers and soldiers of the BRITISH, FRENCH and PRO- 
 VINCIAL armies ; couriers, orderlies ; Chiefs, warriors 
 and women of the SIX-NATIONS ; Chiefs and warriors 
 of divers north-western and south-western tribes. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 SCENE 1. PLACE: Fort Niagara Encampment 
 of the British army of investment. 
 
 TIME : July, 1759. 
 Enter GENERAL PRIDEAUX. 
 
 GEN. PRIDEAUX (apostrophizing the fort) : 
 Of Onguiaahra's tamed, exhausted flood 
 Thou that abidest sentry respiteless ; 
 Outgazer, thou, absorbed serene upon 
 Ontario's gleaming waste ; flagrant the greed 
 Th' ambition towering proud France confessed, 
 Time when of old proposed she to uprear 
 Thy sullen fabric ! What disclaimer round 
 Of England's puissance (flower whose splendid prime, 
 Within these protest-hurling^-rather should 
 I say these grievance-forging colonies, 10 
 
 Sore-menaced is by shrivelling autumn-breath 
 Of pale decadence) those cold cylinders 
 Betimes shall bellow ! What contemptuous 
 
 9 
 
10 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 What vaunting challenge to her governance 
 
 (Close-shielding rule, in her own domicile 
 
 Full slightingly appraised) each loosening curl 
 
 Of the silk- woven banner doth emit ! 
 
 Ours be it here that ensign when commenced 
 
 The motions on the chess-board to degrade ; 
 
 Ours be it then those growlers to kennel ! 20 
 
 Ours their venomed releasers let it be 
 
 Ours its defiant flaunters to o'erwhelm ! 
 
 Yet waiving question overshadowing 
 
 This angle's place as firm- set janitor 
 
 Of Nature's burnished pathway to fat- veined 
 
 Hesperian tracts at hand how virtuous 
 
 The salve to bring assoilment for its theft ! 
 
 Verdurous meadow fills the lakeward view 
 
 Cleft by the river's line of mica-braid ; 
 
 For vivid background, daissed tier on tier 30 
 
 Of stately plateau ; whose tressed coronal 
 
 Of shaggy spires the taintless ether pricks. 
 
 Environs those the truly marvellous, 
 
 Sublime commingling of two elements ; 
 
 Lodging, I wis to momently assume 
 
 The role vaticinal, Gael's second-sight 
 
 Vouchsafed me for the nonce the quickening germ 
 
 Of an Elysium. Novel conceit, 
 
 Perhaps, but in its hues essential chief 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 11 
 
 Constituents that aspect in my eyes 40 
 
 To tunic worn by rifle-regiments 
 
 Affords similitude : the shaven sward 
 
 The finished textile forms ; appeals the stream 
 
 As silvery facing ; hirsute epaulets 
 
 The dim, presiding wood consents to lend. 
 
 But forms approach to break my reverie 
 
 Oust idle fantasies. 
 
 Enter THAYENDANEGEA and Sin WILLIAM 
 JOHNSON. 
 
 (To Sir William J.) 
 
 Thrice-welcome art, 
 
 Stout victor of Lake George ; who stepp'st at once 
 (As if by its high memory inspired) 
 From duty pregnant, function apposite 50 
 
 Formally claiming, through suggestive name, 
 For Britain's lord those crystal surfaces 
 To proudly reach the grander dignity : 
 Purger auspicious of our storied fame 
 From th' ignominy stinging, foul disgrace 
 By Braddock's folly-weighted arms sustained 
 Near Fort Du Quesne Monongahela's black, 
 Entombing wave. 
 
 SIR WM. JOHNSON. Called an apprentice, then, 
 To your world-pseaned craft ; unversed in War's 
 
12 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Astutely-managed game disposing shrewd, 60 
 
 Strategic of the pawns my conquest might 
 
 Have not been so decisive, had not Fate 
 
 Closed an alliance with the conqueror. 
 
 He well content had been, I sometimes think, 
 
 Of immature exploit to have foregone 
 
 The crown State-lavished title, donatives 
 
 To win the skill, pluck the experience, 
 
 That garnered were by you at Dettingen. 
 
 Nor without shade of envy might one view 
 
 Your fit succession to the colonelcy, 70 
 
 Haloed by Howe the trained warrior, 
 
 Rude-felled year past in self-same wilds, where I 
 
 (Think not the contrast wakes complacency, 
 
 The accident gives rise to jubilance) 
 
 Before prevailed, the tyro that pure gem ; 
 
 As loving, as beloved ; soft-nurtured, yet 
 
 The fortune poor, scant rations, bivouac 
 
 Of humblest unit in the camp partook : 
 
 Master profound of warfare's science lore ; 
 
 Of whom Wolfe said, " Best soldier of the King 80 
 
 The noblest Englishman that in my time 
 
 Appeared." But as you're pleased thus to extol 
 
 My services, I bring to you to-day 
 
 A youthful zealot in my retinue ; 
 
 Full hardy sprout, whom first the speeding lead 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 13 
 
 Did, like myself, on those hushed shores salute ; 
 
 Thayendanegea since the striking down 
 
 Before our moistening eyes of valorous 
 
 " King " Hendrick rising hope in fight become 
 
 Of the imperial Mohawks, perfect heir 90 
 
 To his dropped mantle ; budding Joshua. 
 
 GEN. PRIDEAUX (to Thayendanegea). 
 Aspiring youth, rejoiced am I to find 
 You so determined, anxious so afire 
 That ardent dedication to confirm 
 Of fresh-blown, effervescent energies 
 On grieved and smitten country's altar-fires ! 
 
 THAYANDANEGEA (to Sir William Johnson). 
 Speaking of gallant Hendrick, you'll recall 
 His counsel pressed before th' engagement ; how, 
 When it was mooted to divide our force, 
 Dieskau's retirement to break in upon, 100 
 
 He proffer made of most sententious speech : 
 " Too few each party, if required to fight ; 
 Too numerous, if to be killed instead." 
 Picking up twigs, with which to illustrate 
 His sober utterance, he forcibly 
 Upon them bare ; when supervened at heel 
 Comment oracular : " together grouped, 
 These sticks to rend a trial strenuous 
 Defied ; whereas, if you disjoin them, lo ! 
 
14 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Each, by itself, is broken easily." 110 
 
 Malign, indeed, th' appearance Fortune wore ; 
 
 When she deprived us not alone of him, 
 
 But of that soaring spirit, Ephraim 
 
 Williams ; whose death the gracious seed inearthed, 
 
 To blossom into an academy. [borough's 
 
 SIR WM. J. Well I remember. Could a Marl- 
 Deep foresight have impressed more sound advice 1 
 
 (To Gen. P.) To edify you, Frideaux, I would add 
 There's warrant questionless for my young friend's 
 Lauding the maxim taught through that address ; 
 Since in our language his rhythmical name 121 
 
 Has " wedded brands " for its equivalent, [concerns 
 
 GEN. PRIDEAUX. To pass, my valued colleague, to 
 Of living, of engrossing interest 
 Needs not to say that you already have 
 With sapient instinct grasped, in all its bold 
 And stirring magnitude, the present plan 
 For the unsparing, signal punishment 
 For ultimate expulsion of the French ; 
 Which the Great Minister, with shakeless faith, 130 
 His armies on this hemisphere hath set 
 To execute. Our men (deserve they not 
 Guerdon as full as Bradstreet reaped from his 
 Brisk siege of Frontenac) assault this keep ; 
 Whilst Haldimand by whom La Corne's blind dash 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 15 
 
 Has just been foiled safe holds against surprise 
 Oswego ; Amherst, wielding of brigades 
 On land engaged the principal command 
 Flushed by the brilliant coup himself and his 
 High-souled right-arm achieved at Louisburg 140 
 With leaguering column shall (bent they upon 
 Retrieving Abercromby's hard reverse) 
 On scarred Ticonderoga rudely fall ; 
 When, having overcome its garrison 
 Dispersed such troops as hasten to their aid 
 By glassed Champlain, and jewelled links beyond, 
 Fares he to old Quebec ; uniting there 
 With Saunders Wolfe to wrest the citadel. 
 
 SIR W. J. Far-reaching scheme reflection faithful, 
 Of its projector ! Notwithstanding, led [clear 
 
 Am I decidedly to doubt, in view 151 
 
 Of leagues despairful that between them lie ; 
 Of checks, of hindrances impediments 
 From snaring evils of the Richelieu ; 
 Its toothed rocks those ambushed highwaymen 
 Its frilled cascades the shallows' drapery 
 Of shining lawn : delays in traversing 
 The portages, that Amherst there arrives 
 To launch with Wolfe concerted enterprise. 
 Moreover, since their simultaneous 160 
 
 Mooring before Cape Diamond's beetling front 
 
16 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Cannot occur one moving from the south, 
 
 One up the gulf Montcalm might seize the chance 
 
 To strike the severed squadrons, each in turn. 
 
 [Exeunt omnes. 
 
 SCENE 2. PLACE : Compartment in the Fort. 
 
 Enter CAPT. POUCHOT, KAENDAE, and JONCAIRE- 
 CLAUZONNE. 
 
 CAPT. POUCHOT. The startling proof we've managed 
 Our adversaries of the blundering [to afford 
 
 Construction of their trenches by our ruse 
 Of challenging encounter that our guns 
 Sweep their cheap works, will, I feel confident, 
 Lame the impression that the Iroquois 170 
 
 Are wont to harbor of their potency. 
 These surely cannot relish the device 
 Of being so stationed that they must attract 
 The blended fire of shell and musketry 
 Delivered by our wakeful soldiery. 
 By dextrous handling, might we not induce 
 Surrender of their partialities ; 
 
 Push our advantage, haply, to relieve 178 
 
 Them of a share of the Sonnontouans. [them. 
 
 KAENDAE. With your permission, I will talk to 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 17 
 
 CAPT. P. Granted's my leave to undertake the parle. 
 
 [Exit KAENDAE. 
 
 If we could but detach these warriors ; 182 
 
 Who from their numbers (I would place the count 
 At full nine hundred) superadd to which 
 Their wide acquaintance with the vicinage, 
 Source are to me of more uneasiness 
 Than all the arts of their confederates, 
 From Prideaux' force, it would so cripple him 
 That he terms for a peace might entertain. 
 Had we not these auxiliaries, moreo'er, 1 90 
 
 To reckon with, not vainly might we hope 
 The faulty fosses of the enemy 
 To render still more futile nay destroy. 
 
 [Hailing a Sergeant] 
 
 Should legates from th' opposing Iroquois, 
 On his return, accompany our chief ; 
 See that they carefully blindfolded are, 
 'Fore they have access to the inner fort. 
 
 (KAENDAE is here observed before the walls, with two 
 Indians. He accosts the commandant.) 
 
 KAENDAE. Wait with me chieftains of the 
 Commissioned by them as an embassy [Iroquois; 
 To treat with you. While craving audience ; 200 
 Insist do they on pledge, ere entering 
 Your chambers dull the word of Joncaire, whom 
 
18 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 They've always classed among their family, 
 Would ease their doubts for their immunity 
 From harmful usage ; from being jeoparded 
 By methods underhand. Will you extend 
 To them such grace engage to that effect ? 
 
 CAPT. P. Joncaire is here. Safe-conduct is decreed. 
 
 (KAENDAE now enters the apartment with the chiefs, 
 whose eyes are found to be closely bandaged.) 
 
 [Re-hailing Sergeant ,] 
 
 Relieve the strangers of their bandages ; 
 
 That being effected from the room retire. 210 
 
 IKOQUOIS CHIEF. Our several lodges, cousin, 
 Adoption by you of too harsh surmise [deprecate 
 Concerning motives that impel them now 
 T' uplift the axe against old comrades. We, 
 With candor prickings e'en of shame avow 
 Ourselves unable reason to assign 
 Adequate just for our hostility ; 
 Plead we, in main, that Johnson ; all intent 
 To warn us from a falling edifice 
 (So preyed he on unarmored innocence, 220 
 
 Limp wills conforming on his anvil's block) 
 Our minds infected with the drear belief 
 That France's glory from its zenith sinks ; 
 Recedes her might as Ocean's ebbing tide, 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 19 
 
 CAPT. P. Your course, I'm bound to say, creates in 
 No fleeting wonderment. Friends, what excuse [me 
 For quarrel had I furnished 1 Were you here 
 Con tending for me that far worthier step. 
 Did I not battle for you frequently ; 
 In your behoof employ each faculty ; 230 
 
 Strength, will, exerting to humiliate 
 The strutting nation, which now condescend, 
 Feigning esteem, to stroke caress you ? Is 
 The cloven foot not thinly shrouded ; they, 
 Revivers of that hoar imposture wreaked 
 In all its patternless audacity, 
 With no abatement of its craftiness 
 The hungry depredator of the flock 
 His inroad consummating in a garb 
 Deceptive ? Friends, aforetime had we not 240 
 
 Custodians been of one another's trust 
 Sharers of one another's warm regard ? 
 When aimed I to abuse your confidence ; 
 Of your respect how earned a forfeiture ? 
 Did not your urbane people me. baptize 
 (Found you the title by one act belied 1) 
 The gushing fount of prodigality 1 
 Reviewed that era of amenities 
 Thrown on me now huge burden of distress 
 (My wont, you've learnt, is not to spare my foes) 250 
 
20 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Through the necessity I find to point 
 My engines of destruction upon men 
 Other than our traditional enemies. 
 Lastly as ground of all most obvious 
 Why you no further should embroil yourselves 
 In this malignant difference I would 
 Your heedfullest attention draw to this 
 Important fact ; your kindred from the south 
 As from the west to our assistance move. 259 
 
 Are you prepared your clansmen's blood to shed ? 
 If not break through the English thongs ; and, if 
 You can't be influenced to side with us, 
 Preserve, at least, fitting neutrality. 
 
 (Here the Commandant presents a collar to the chiefs.) 
 
 This collar carry to your warriors ; 
 Twill seal my speech with authenticity. 
 
 CHIEF OF THE MISSISAKES (addressing the envoys). 
 
 Brothers, we do congratulate ourselves 
 
 That we conduced, in measure, to secure 
 
 This sage debate. We trust it may result 
 
 In leading you again to clasp the hand 
 
 Dwell in the sight of our Great Father ; who 270 
 
 Has stood by us with spouse-like constancy ; 
 
 For whom die would we freely cheerfully. 
 
THAYENDAtfEGEA. 21 
 
 CHIEF OP THB POUTEOTAMIES (addressing the 
 envoys). 
 
 Has not, my uncles, the " Master of Life " 
 
 Us in this bowery " Isle " deposited ; 
 
 With orders to his vizier to adhere 1 
 
 Calls such adhesion for apology ? 
 
 Were we not, chiefs, the first to brandish blade 
 
 In his support ; whose bosom yearns for you 1 
 
 When was evinced more spirit or more pluck 
 
 Determination than our ancestors' 1 280 
 
 My uncles ! we, with unfeigned pleasure, note 
 
 That you from friends' proposals have not shrunk : 
 
 We labor to reclaim you from those fiends 
 
 Of English (race we know but to abhor) 
 
 Repeating wish of these our relatives 
 
 That you may once more, kinsmen, come to lean 
 
 Our Father's arm upon ; for we are loth 
 
 Either of ye, our patrons, to forsake. 
 
 IROQUOIS CHIEF (to Capt. Pouchot). 
 
 We will immediately convey to our 
 
 Companions all that has been said : expect 290 
 
 Our answer by the next meridian. 
 
 [Exeunt omnes. 
 
22 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 SCENE 3. PLACE : The same. 
 
 Enter CAPT. POUCHOT, LIEUT. BONNAFOUX and 
 
 KAENDAE, followed by a number of 
 
 Indian ivomen. 
 
 KAENDAE (to Pouchot). 
 The hour assigned for sending their reply 
 To the pour-parler has elapsed without 
 Communication forwarded to us 
 From Johnson's Iroquois ; address I now 
 My prayer for leave to ascertain the cause. 
 
 CAPT. P. You may go forth ; but the negotiants, 
 Through you, are notified that I shall not 
 The loosing of our missiles on the foe 
 Suspend; since I, by reconnoitring close 300 
 
 The scene, have just discovered that he used 
 Th' extended period of our discourse 
 His works to expedite perceptibly. 
 Take with you, then, this pole-tacked banneret ; 
 It you can hoist, in case the deputies 
 Solicit readmission to the fort. 
 
 KAENDAE. Such your behest 111 studiously obey. 
 
 \Exfit KAENDAE. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 23 
 
 After a short interval, KAENDAE reappears before 
 the walls, accompanied by SUSPENDED COLLAR, an 
 Onondaga chief, and two Cayugas. The requirement 
 of bandaging the ambassadors' eyes having been ful- 
 filled in this case also, all are admitted ; after which 
 the bandages are removed. The chiefs preface dis- 
 cussion by reciprocating the Commandant's gift to the 
 original envoys ; tendering him a large white collar, 
 as a symbol of peace. 
 
 SUSP. C. Cousin, we were beset by obstacles 
 Placed in our path by Johnson to defeat 
 Our purpose. This acquits us of designed 310 
 
 Remissness. We decision quickly reached 
 To hold aloof ; we leave the English now 
 Our birchen cabins on the farther bank 
 La Belle Famille to occupy ; there massed, 
 Shall constitute force unattached. Thanks take 
 For the advice which has persuaded us. 
 
 CAPT. POUCHOT. Your half-loaf, chieftain, we full 
 Appropriate. [gratefully 
 
 (SUSPENDED COLLAR here presents a string of 
 wampum to POUCHOT.) 
 
 SUSPENDED COLLAR. Prefer we, though, request 
 That those the women children of our kind ; 
 Since was in ashes laid the Chabert hold, 320 
 
24 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Welcomed by you as wards within the fort, 
 (That they from shattering bombs might scatheless be 
 Preserved) should, with Kaendae, their staff, 
 Tarry with us at our sequestered camp. 
 
 CAPT. P. All these are present. They full liberty 
 Possess to act as they themselves prescribe ; 
 Albeit, chief, Kaendae* assured 
 Monsieur Chabert that he would not depart. 
 Still, I would have no person hesitate. 
 
 (Here KAENDAE, in vouchsafing no reply, tacitly 
 affirms wliat has been recalled to his notice by this 
 remark of the Commandant. The latter turning 
 now to the women produces, and spreads before him, 
 the belt and equipment as figuring a precaution 
 taken against threatened disaster placed with the 
 dead body of an Indian in the tomb.) 
 
 Witness, frail branches of the Iroquois, 330 
 
 (The symbolism all will comprehend) 
 How to your welfare I devote myself ! 
 Trappings are these which, you're aware, descend 
 With the stilled body to the noisome grave. 
 Straightway to death, then, without vengeance owed 
 Condignest doom pray I to be consigned, 
 If in my charge you meet calamity. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 25 
 
 (The women offer, in recognition, strings to POUCHOT.) 
 
 SPOKESMAN. Confiding, Sieur, in your integrity, 
 Declare we, by this sign, our preference 
 For resting safe-iin mured within the fort. 340 
 
 (At this stage SUSPENDED COLLAR presents an 
 additional string to the Commandant.) 
 
 Present we token for the Moraiguns ; 
 With the petition that the Outaouais 
 Have option, likewise, to betake themselves 
 To near retreat where we our wigwams pitch. 
 
 CAPT. POUCHOT (aside to Lieut. Bonnafoux). 
 This a manoeuvre is to me it smells 
 So strongly of deceit inspired, I fear, 
 By Johnson to incense the Outaouais. 
 For does it not impute to us that cool 
 Demand suspicion of the faithfulness 
 Of braves who never wandered from our side ? 350 
 
 LIEUT. BONNAFOUX (aside to Capt. Pouchot). 
 I would with you conjecture that the piece 
 By brush was colored of hypocrisy ; 
 Agree with the suggestion that the move 
 Contributes to a fraudful masquerade, 
 Which that rare counterfeiter has 
 Contrived for our peculiar benefit. 
 
26 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 CAPT. POUCHOT (to Suspended Collar). 
 Astonished am I not a little, chief, 
 That band, not e'er as kin acknowledging 
 The Outaouais, should seek to modify 
 Their attitude. Banish fond fallacies ! 360 
 
 No palterers the Outaouais ; disdain 
 Would they thus to insult the speckless arms ; 
 Damage the high the sacred cause of France. 
 
 SUSP. C. We table, Sieur, this tasty edible : 
 Doughty Kaendae*, short while before 
 Escorting us through this webbed labyrinth, 
 Did Johnson's tent fearlessly penetrate. 
 There come tossed ceremony to the winds 
 The sachem's voice rang in reproach of his 
 Finesse ; pulling the wool over our eyes ; 370 
 
 Scarified him for his inveigling us 
 Into this emprise. 
 
 KAENDAE. Bred grim irony ; 
 Johnson the blast imbibed as pleasantry. [stance ; 
 
 "S. C." Closing, we would impress this circum- 
 We do not make our stand conditional 
 On your conceding the indulgences ; 
 For which we made request with diffidence ; 
 Our promise given not to incommode 
 Assailed assailants we shall implement. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 27 
 
 CAPT. POUCHOT (to the envoys). 
 
 Look that your oath be not transgressed. With this ; 
 There being no longer dart to elevate 381 
 
 Pass on our controversial battledores, 
 Dissolved becomes our fruitful conference. 
 Tickle I would, though, palate of the flesh, 
 By herewith handing for your separate 
 Consumption, chiefs, a porous slice of bread- 
 Largess from decent oven inasmuch 
 As I have heard Prideaux allots to you 
 Far from invigorating dietary 389 
 
 Teeth-plaguing scones beneath the embers baked. 
 
 (The Commandant here suits his action to the word, 
 by portioning to each of the deputies a comfortable 
 
 dole of bread.) 
 
 [Exeunt ornnes. 
 
28 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 SCENE 4. PLACE : Before the walls of the Fort. 
 
 The batteries renew their attack upon the walls ; sus- 
 pended for a considerable time through need for 
 reconstruction of the original approaches, which, 
 as located, had been found to expose the workers 
 about them too freely to the defenders' fire. In 
 course of the bombardment, so recommenced, one 
 of the cohorns explodes, instantly killing GENERAL 
 PRIDE AUX. 
 
 SIR WM. JOHNSON (to officers ofths staff). 
 Trist offspring of mischance or of neglect 390 
 
 The forfeit burdensome, which harshly veils 
 For us a light of gathering brilliancy ; 
 Which snapped the life of gifted officer ; 
 Which closed the race of sterling patriot ! 
 Still must we not, by that fell stroke unnerved, 
 Relax suspend desire ; still must we not, 
 Cowed feebly by disaster, labor spare, 
 To gain the stronghold. 
 
 [7 T o an aide-de-camp.] Bid the cannoneers, 
 Whiles they redouble, to point true, their fire. 
 Pray that success remedial eschar spread 400 
 
 O'er grim miscarriage ; that renown erect 
 Its eyrie, cloud-enveloped, from out 
 The wreck of shuddering fatality ! 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 29 
 
 (The assault thenceforward is prosecuted amain, 
 until a number of ugly , scattered rents appear in the 
 walls. At this juncture, a herald advances to the 
 battlements, under cover of a flag of truce.) 
 
 HERALD. The mouthpiece am I, worthy castellan, 
 Of greeting weighty from our General ; 
 His mettled troops ranks which, you know, comprise 
 A restive host of qualmless savages ; 
 Whose passions it will be most difficult 
 To hold in check, if lingers their reprieve 410 
 
 From tame inaction in this narrow coign, 
 Th' embarrassed fort enclose on every side. 
 Our batteries belch bane, alike from here, 
 And from the river's western brink ; you see 
 The mischief worked upon the bastions 
 The gaping apertures ploughed in your walls ; 
 Our pickets guard (that channel of relief 
 Debarring) lake-approaches they patrol 
 Its bluffs with pauseless vigil truths that must 
 Have been to you brought home, with no less clear 
 Than awkward force, when beaten back by us 421 
 But yesterday your venturous galley was, 
 From Cadaraqui's isle-unlocking strait 
 Wafted with reinforcements. Hoped-for aid 
 By landward routes a powerful reserve 
 Stand charged to intercept. Wherefore, to stay 
 
30 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 This bloodshed added horrors 'scape you are, 
 
 In amity, invited to transfer 
 
 To us the fastness ; its defenders stores. [bear : 
 
 CAPT. POUCHOT. My flaming cartel to your leader 
 Quarried by me and hewn, upraised by me 430 
 
 The stubborn granite of the sconce as changed, 
 Improved, renewed it darks the sky which now 
 Enfolds me ; graved are earnest, deep resolve 
 Exacting toil upon its lines untrimmed ; 
 Burned in its rugged angles all my faith, 
 Zeal loyalty to France. I cannot will 
 Not yield it. 
 
 HERALD. On your head the consequence ! 
 
 HERALD here withdraws; and the siege is continued 
 with undiminished viyor. 
 
 SCENE 5. PLACE: Tent of the Commanding 
 General. 
 
 To SIR WM. JOHNSON enter a COURIER. 
 
 COURIER. The foeman's levies, motley armament 
 In part, from Erie's southern edge, the rest, 
 From untracked cantons by the Illinois, 440 
 
 Ohio's, marge recruited ; whose advance 
 'Twas laid on me with watchful eye to note 
 Instant report ; their bateaux beached off He 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 31 
 
 De Marine, push, by Aubry captained and 
 De Ligneris, to Pouchot's succor. They, 
 Ere this, I dare avouch, have come abreast 
 The cataract. 
 
 SIR WM. JOHNSON. To urgent conference 
 Quick summon Colonel Massey ; say I would 
 Some wise, effective ordering of our force 
 With him devise 'gainst battle's imminence. 450 
 
 [Exit COURIER. 
 
 Since it would but our hard-won vantage sell 
 To send detachments forth th' invaders' use 
 Of the flint-paven portage to dispute ; 
 Heralds their march a struggle desperate 
 In the parched open for the mastery : 
 Suspended soon in trembling balances 
 Glory, dishonor ; triumph and defeat ! 
 Build should we on the looser discipline 
 Of our opponents, now, our surest ground 
 Of trust ; on tactics draw to combat force. 460 
 
 (Enter COLONEL MASSEY.) 
 
 I begged your presence, Massey, to discuss 
 
 With you at large the hour's emergency ; 
 
 On it I do invoke your spoken mind 
 
 Beseech your candid thought that judgment crave, 
 
 To which your training on the elder sod 
 
32 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Lends rarest value. My opinion hear : 
 
 The portage-outlet has (De Lancey proved 
 
 His competence) been strongly fortified : 
 
 It let us treat, then, as the point d'appui ; 
 
 There since the mob, hard-visaged and unkempt 
 
 (A compost curious of nondescripts) 471 
 
 Have here enrolled among them, 'tis announced, 
 
 Surprising marksmen from the outer posts 
 
 There should the Province's light infantry, 
 
 A smaller x number of the Grenadiers, 
 
 With a proportion of your regulars 
 
 Station assume behind the abattis : 
 
 On either flan gxJaes toyed ^ these, after all, 
 
 Failed Pouchot to estrange the Indians 
 
 (Sage Butler for their head as subaltern 480 
 
 Thayendanegea would I nominate) 
 
 Less hampered in this posture they would be 
 
 With fiery onsets they might meditate. 
 
 COL. MASSE Y. Chime well the measures you thus 
 With my conceptions. [briefly sketch 
 
 SIR WM. JOHNSON. Let me signify 
 Reliance on your skill, activity 
 Your wisdom, well -approved capacity 
 By leaving, without scruple, in your hands 
 Their charge supreme, their full accomplishment. 
 As to the new-arrived belligerents 490 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 33 
 
 Somewhat disquieted am I by word 
 
 Of Western braves being found in Aubry's ranks ; 
 
 Some owning consanguinity with those 
 
 That feed our muster. To the foe's bleak fold 
 
 Lured such have been by sundry blandishment 
 
 The viscid slime of meddling Jesuits ; 
 
 In province secular, salivous snakes 
 
 Which one might hope to scotch, though not to kill ; 
 
 (Monitions, preaching ; piety of these 
 
 To measure cut of Bourbon interests) 500 
 
 Dissembling clerics, oily cozeners ; 
 
 Such as infest the central Carrying Place ; 
 
 Whose sleights it irks King George to neutralize 
 
 At war the toxic with the antidote ; 
 
 By artful droppings of sinistrous hints 
 
 Of attitude to be by us employed, 
 
 To this proud race's grievous detriment ; 
 
 Of policy with hate to be pursued 
 
 Filching of lands, throttling of liberties ; 
 
 Enforced removal from their settlements 510 
 
 Should our emergence from the deathful mill, 
 
 Which this stern wrestle goes to institute, 
 
 Be, in the end, propitious. To so marked 
 
 Extent the nature of the redman's made 
 
 A harbourage for veering impulses, 
 
 So close is modelled on the weathervane 
 
34 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 I fear, lest, parleys opening with our bands 
 (We've seen how accurately Pouchot gauged 
 Their tendency to traffic with their trust) 
 The spigot fly from their cooped fealty. 520 
 
 COL. M. Direction of so large a following 
 Of the Six- Nations as encamp with us ; 
 Point that induced me, when brave Prideaux fell, 
 To waive my title to the leadership ; 
 While you stood there, of all best qualified 
 To hold them well-affected to the cause ; 
 Which they, 'twas said, had none too willingly 
 Espoused were serving with half-heartedness. 
 Returning to the sphere of strategy, 
 Whilst I th' assigned divisions shall conduct, 530 
 Attack thus plainly threatened to resist ; 
 You will, in your wise superintendency, 
 Protect, I'm sure, the trenches ; keeping there 
 A fair-sized company of our array, 
 To cope with sorties from the garrison : 
 Behoves, as well, contingent to detail 
 Projects to baffle for abrupt descent 
 Upon the transports passage so preserve, 
 
 In case of hopeless worsting, for retreat. 
 
 \Exeunt. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 35 
 
 SCENE 6. PLACE: Building of the Fort Bastion 
 of the Five-Nations. 
 
 Enter CAPT. POUCHOT and LIEUT. BONNAFOUX. 
 
 CAPT. POUCHOT (gazing through an embrasure 
 towards the wood). 
 
 To lighten mind long fretted by suspense 540 
 
 For lead-shooned week Doubt's joyless intimate, 
 
 Grown has the ridge to my intensive sight 
 
 A haunt at last of human tenancy ; 
 
 Distinguish do I now compacted rows 
 
 Figures whose sensile armature gives back 
 
 The sun's rich splendor ; Aubry's vanguard, they. 
 
 LIEUT. B. Our brief advice gave the intelligence 
 That he conducts a strange-assorted crew. 
 
 CAPT. P. Granting such news to be correct ; with 
 Attend a corps of expert riflemen [him 
 
 Inured each one of them to border broils 551 
 
 The bushmen from recesses of Presqu' He ; 
 Sharp-shooters from Fort Machault and Le Boeuf. 
 Further, both Aubry and De Ligneris 
 Are so adroit efficient that they're bound 
 To drive these English hornets to their boats. 
 
 (Brisk firing is now heard from the direction of the 
 
36 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 clearing, mingled with the strident war-whoops oj 
 Indians.) 
 
 While forced upon our ears those volleys sharp 
 
 The knell, belike, of loved compatriots 
 
 How would you, Bonnafoux, the fact explain, 
 
 That for sustained interval has ceased 560 
 
 To rain upon us the besiegers' fire ; 
 
 Where probe for secret of that grateful lull 
 
 In their attentions ? 
 
 LIEUT. BONNAFOUX. I would fancy those 
 Deputed for the more exhaustive task 
 Of razing these gray battlements were sent 
 To swell their army's numbers in the field. 
 
 CAPT. P. Th' occasion's suitable, if that be so, 
 To risk a sally. Do you, then, instruct 
 De Villars to collect, in furtherance 
 Of such design, good moiety of our 570 
 
 Defenders ; let him be enjoined to feel 
 His way ; great prudence practise watchfulness. 
 
 [Exit BONNAFOUX. 
 
 A respectable section of the garrison having been 
 got together, they sally forth ; but have not proceeded 
 further than the covered way, when a body of men 
 rise as if by magic from concealment in the trenches', 
 and compel them to withdraw incontinently within 
 their defences. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 37 
 
 SCENE 7. PLACE : The besiegers' trenches. 
 SIR WM. JOHNSON (addressing the retiring French). 
 
 All too deficient, shallow reasoners, 
 Could you conceive us to be imbeciles ; 
 Prepared to wilfully desert our ground, 
 And let you cast yourselves in Aubry's arms ? 
 Bide in your battered towers for short-lived term 
 We grant you, of our grace, their custody ; 
 Cling to your crumbling shelter, till we haste, 
 From Aubry's overthrow, to end this strife. 580 
 
 [Exit SIR WM. JOHNSON. 
 
 SCENE 8. PLACE : Building of the Fort Bastion 
 of the Five-Nations. 
 
 To CAPT. POUCHOT enter a FRENCH INDIAN RUNNER. 
 
 RUNNER. Woe ! woe ! the hour ; the French have 
 
 given way ; 
 And Butler's Mohawks speed their frenzied flight. 
 
 CAPT. P. I scarce can credit such ill-starred event. 
 How came our troops so soon demoralized ? 
 
 RUNNER. The foe, concealed by heavy breast- 
 works ; when 
 
38 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 We ventured near them, poured a galling fire ; 
 Then at us rushed at point of bayonet : 
 Meanwhile, their crouching herd of Indians 
 Pegged in the closet of their memory 
 The lay, each intricacy of the wood 590 
 
 Leapt from its shade, like rolling avalanche ; 
 Falling upon our lines with stress so tierce, 
 That we became as saplings in a storm. 
 
 CAPT. P. Though hard to live to be thus agonized, 
 Naught now remains save to resign the fort ! 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 END OF ACT I. 
 
ACT II. 
 
 SCENE 1. PLACE: The Mohawk Valley Anglican 
 mission-post at Fort Hunter. 
 
 TIME: Winter of 1771-72. 
 Enter THAYENDANEGEA and REV. JOHN STUART. 
 
 THAYENDANEGEA. Fails oral note to syllable the 
 
 thanks ; 
 
 Pay ne'er could gratitude, though drained its hoard, 
 Thou zealous teacher, friendly monitor 
 Of Truth the pure-browed, radiant messenger 
 For train of love- spurred efforts to promote 
 My people's inner weal. Devoted priest, 
 No early-drooping bays proportioned meed 
 Of thy staunch travailings ; publish not these 
 The heart-kept tally of thy ministerings : 
 A delving there superb self-sacrifice 10 
 
 By whom outdone of school of Loyola ? 
 Feat meritorious enow it were 
 But to have scratched a long-left fallow soil ; 
 Where skulks fatuity, cowled ignorance ; 
 Fief to which superstition tyrannous 
 Studies to verify hastes to defend 
 Pre-emptive claim : done nothing more than bid 
 
 39 
 
40 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 For the acquest of property, on which 
 
 A hide-bound bigotry would fain reserve 
 
 Perpetual lien ; since laying e'en the fuse, 20 
 
 Whose smart ignition frees the swathed charge 
 
 The thunderous bolt propels that hopes, perchance, 
 
 To shake raze Error's thick- walled donjon, might 
 
 The hardiest innovator well perturb, 
 
 Most self-reliant propagandist vex. 
 
 That prelude in itself full hazardous ; 
 
 Decrying customs wild, abhorrent, gross, 
 
 That on susceptive mould impression clear, 
 
 Conspicuous carve ; fantastic rites and weird, 29 
 
 That stablished there crave vicious permanence. 
 
 But thou, choice guide, fleshed by the overthrow 
 
 Of passions mutinous the bearing down 
 
 Of rooted prejudice ; thou, having once 
 
 Ground deftly broke, through stifling of perverse, 
 
 Soul-stunting practice (gifts material, 
 
 Food air allowed the coffined dead, as sane 
 
 Provision for their passage to the bourne 
 
 Unfading) ; weaning from inane, deformed 
 
 Attachments (reverence for images, 
 
 As the depositaries of a force 40 
 
 Whimfully swaying human destinies) 
 
 Unquailing, didst on larger strife embark 
 
 To conquest didst more memorable march. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 41 
 
 For converts these as much because coerced 
 By the strong magnet of thy swerveless walk ; 
 Fair prizes of thy perfumed probity 
 (Unwitting incense that the barriered sense, 
 Assailing, subtly penetrates) as they 
 Are fruitage of thy brave and fervid toil 
 Starved, darkened, blemished, ailing, empty breasts 
 Found nourished, filled ; illumined, purified. 51 
 
 REV. J. S. Little had I accomplished, worthy 
 Without thine ever-present sympathy ; [Brant, 
 
 Written full oft in active, powerful, 
 And wise support. Nor may I disregard 
 The ready and the useful lever ; nor 
 Deny th' invaluable impetus 
 Thy well-deserved, commanding influence 
 With high and low within thy " Castles' " pale 
 Unceasing lent. 
 
 THAT. Repaid my service is, 60 
 
 Scanning the lustrous record of thy work. 
 
 REV. J. S. Not causelessly elate with what is past 
 Gladdened by that review let us forbear 
 Urned Retrospection's so capacious mere 
 For its sunk freight for its spilled jettison 
 O'er mindfully to drag. Whilst tenderly 
 Enshrining the closed page, resolve we now 
 T' augment our stolen success ; the outworks won 
 
42 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Storm we the muniments. Chasing such end, 
 Might we not appetize the healthsome food 70 
 Of its partakers the soul-teguments 
 Bruised, broken, festering endow, as 'twere 
 With healing unguent ; Great-Heart, might we not 
 On the glad message saving virtue pour 
 Them clothing in the native dialect ? 
 
 THAY. Such treatment as you signify, dear friend, 
 The offering would with suasive charm invest ; 
 To it impart a grateful excellence, [schooling ; your 
 
 REV. J. S. Well, then, your thorough English 
 Wide cognizance of Mohawk idioms 80 
 
 Fruit from your calling as interpreter 
 Of Bible story such equipment would 
 If but your aspirations coincide, 
 Your secret feelings nudge you to assent 
 To the proposal wondrously me help 
 To the fruition of a cherished scheme, 
 Translation of the Gospel narratives. 
 
 THAT. Most heartily I pledge shall eager bring 
 Assistance to that lofty enterprise. 
 As trowel use my qualities, my gifts, 90 
 
 In building that imposing pyramid ; 
 Make requisition on me for the wick 
 Which should that candle for the nighted grace. 
 Sweet privilege for both to vindicate, 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 43 
 
 By dint of free-will measures to extend 
 
 The circle of our Church's followers ; 
 
 Till there be no left no wanderers to reclaim 
 
 Till there be no left no piners to console ; 
 
 All who were hungry have been banqueted 
 
 All who were thirsty have been vivified ; 100 
 
 Till there remain no platters to be scoured 
 
 No caverns for Christ-rays to penetrate, 
 
 The outflow of that Queenly courtesy ; 
 
 Which, toward the birth-hour of the century, 
 
 With dower of twin argent services, 
 
 Stooped kindly to enrich our altar-stand. 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE 2. PLACE: The Moliawk Valley Council- 
 Room at Johnson Hall. 
 
 TIME : July, 1772. 
 
 GOVERNOR TRYON discovered seated on a raised platform, 
 SIR WM. JOHNSON, by invitation, filling a place at 
 his side ; a number of Indian warriors and women 
 occupying benches in the body of the room. 
 THAYENDANEGEA, coming forward from amongst 
 the male element, addresses the Governor. 
 
 THAY. Come I before you, Sire, as deputy 
 Of our much-injured Mohawks, to submit 
 Their case (the controversy represents 
 
44 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 The simmering of half a century) 110 
 
 Pour in your Excellency's benign ear 
 
 Chapter of wrongdoing, by all adjudged 
 
 A crying grievance ; trouble this which steals 
 
 All pleasure from the chase provides, at night, 
 
 The uninviting fabric of our dreams ; 
 
 A not to be unsaddled incubus. 
 
 Relate the linked occurrences to our 
 
 Tribe's footing as a land proprietor. 
 
 Without assent nay even privity, 
 
 Of leagued sachems, a formality 1 20 
 
 Required to legalize a transfer ; plied 
 
 With drink the sellers previously had been 
 
 (A doltish, irresponsible quintette) 
 
 By one George Klock, an odious go-between, 
 
 Tracts near Canajoharie long time dubbed 
 
 "The Planting-Grounds," in common parlance were 
 
 Obtained from us by Philip Livingston. 
 
 Collins, a land surveyor, presently 
 
 To aggravate our hardship undertook 
 
 T' increase the boundaries materially; 130 
 
 Achievement to evade our vigilance 
 
 Compassed by stealth, upon a moonlight tour ; 
 
 Claiming the ampler premises to be 
 
 Th' original dimensions of the grant. 
 
 The Congress, afterwards (let me say here 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 45 
 
 The complot in its full enormity 
 
 Was not revealed for nearly twenty years) 
 
 Asked to explore that cave of guilt inspect 
 
 That slough of turpitude reported that 
 
 The maudlin transferors no status had 140 
 
 Th' estate to alienate. Accepted this 
 
 By chief successor of the patentee ; 
 
 But there being infant heirs, not competent 
 
 To voice their wish, things hung in abeyance ; 
 
 Till German settlers 'gan to squat upon 
 
 The questioned lands. Our " Castles," here, to gain 
 
 Due recognition as their overlords, 
 
 Collection pressed from these of stated rent 
 
 In money this long paid, or money's worth. 
 
 The younger Livingston, to complicate 150 
 
 Affairs, tried to eject our husbandmen ; 
 
 While Klock the sneaking mongrel at his heels 
 
 Exceeding loath to disappoint the hopes 
 
 Formed from his facile graduation as 
 
 A scoundrel ; fresh-assailing, with a more 
 
 Unstinted use of liquor, new-found dupes, 
 
 Prevailed upon them to relinquish rights, 
 
 By all possessed, in common, in the block ; 
 
 Admitting thus the sale's validity : 
 
 Wringing, besides, confirmatory deed 160 
 
 Unto himself and fit associate. 
 
46 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Later, to do him justice, Livingston 
 
 When were elicited the naked facts, 
 
 Fully exposed the glaring roguery 
 
 Before a Council specially convened, 
 
 A proper willingness displayed to bow 
 
 To its unfavorable arbitrament ; 
 
 But Klock, who had acquired part ownership, 
 
 Flatly refuses to undo his fraud. 
 
 Wherefore, we trust your Excellency's power 1 70 
 
 Will be exerted to recover that, 
 
 Which your mild predecessor, Monckton, held 
 
 To Ve been most shamefully, most wickedly, 
 
 Purloined ; that you'll be swift to imprecate 
 
 Torrential evil on that guileful class 
 
 Of pale-face ruffians (of whom this Klock 's 
 
 The loathsome archetype) who trap delude ; 
 
 Contaminate corrupt ; that levelled may 
 
 Be jagged slugs of obloquy at those 
 
 (Klock most malodorous of the harpy spawn, 180 
 
 None of the genus so insatiate) 
 
 Whose unclean, lawless trade it is to steep 
 
 Too yielding brains in brandy's poisonous fumes, 
 
 To serve their foul, their sordid interest. 
 
 Not populous are we; nor singly boast 
 
 We noted strength. Still have we frequent proved 
 
 That we can manage proud connections ; we, 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 47 
 
 Seeking, can rivet firm alliances : 
 
 So we believe you'll impulse find to turn 
 
 To the redressing of our grievances, 190 
 
 In the great danger of its going abroad ; 
 
 Should you betray a mocking negligence 
 
 Take refuge in a listless apathy 
 
 That safeguards we from Britain's crown derived 
 
 Had been by you disparaged disesteeined ; 
 
 That aught had chanced to weaken, or to dull 
 
 The covenant-chain our sires redoubtable 
 
 Have long preserved intact leave luminous ; 
 
 That items of our nation's privilege 
 
 Were trampled scouted ; ridiculed ignored. 200 
 
 Gov. TRYON. Stout orator, your warm recital, if 
 In no wise strained, or colored, must awake 
 Responsive thrill in every righteous breast ; 
 Therefore, you may depend upon it that 
 My utmost everything I'll do to bring 
 About the restitution of your rights. 
 
 [Exeunt wines. 
 
48 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 SCENE 3. PLACE: The Mohawk Valley Lawn 
 
 at Johnson If all, the Manor-House of the 
 
 Superintendent of Indian Affairs. 
 
 TIME : Midsummer, 1773. 
 Enter THAYENDANEGEA and SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 
 
 SIR WM. JOHNSON. Supplies for me, good Joseph, 
 Of joysome meditation that in this L constan ^ theme 
 Tossed undersphere my usual goings have 
 Been so disposed that Providence permits 210 
 
 Me pleasured eye, at will, to throw o'er these 
 Bright confines landscape that of beauty, charm, 
 Uncovers infinite diversity. 
 
 While from these banked parterres the thralled ken 
 Broad tilth surveys, which, slanting towards the town, 
 Abuts like surface bending hitherward ; 
 The field of vision equally gives room 
 For compact area of tranquil plain : 
 Far off, those sun-bathed, lucent levels seen 
 Merging in rampired slope ; channelled or else 220 
 By peaceful vale. Partitioned wondrously, 
 That restful floor (a map spread of unflawed 
 Tessellar paving, or seeming of some 
 Ideal patchwork, they, the dainty and 
 The trim resultant) into polished strips 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 49 
 
 Of fructed glebe ; with pleasant, emerald- 
 
 Hued zones of thrifty pasture, here and there 
 
 Them bordering ; effulgent quarterings 
 
 Their essence printed on each spearlet's soft, 
 
 As comely head-dress which, with vividness, 230 
 
 Attest the free, the buoyant stimulus 
 
 Of careful tillage cheerfully reflect 
 
 Th' incentive stroke of flagless industry. 
 
 Sheds this kind region choicest specimen 
 
 Of air-dosed cereal earth -bo wed vegetal ; 
 
 Of fruit of vine each mellow variant 
 
 All sweets of groaning orchard best affords : 
 
 Return produced, at times, should but the door 
 
 Unlatched be of a bursting treasure-house. 
 
 The scene holds other prospect ; Nature there 240 
 
 Doffing her robe of sumptuous elegance, 
 
 But to reveal as grateful spectacle 
 
 Stretches of wind-stirred uplands. Yonder sprawl 
 
 The Mayfield Hills, tree-turbaned ; southward rise 
 
 (Cloud-piercing minarets) through wreathing haze, 
 
 The peaks of Cherry Valley. Nor deprived 
 
 The chequered view of grandeur's complement 
 
 Transepts of cloistral forest. Struck, perchance 
 
 So viewing it the note of rhapsody ; 
 
 Yet would I estimate this cirque terrene, 250 
 
 Where jostle lea and cope arboreal ; 
 
50 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Mate humid dales with lonely, spectral hills, 
 Grass-quilted croft with herb-sprent table-land 
 Marvel of the Creator's handiwork. 
 
 THAYENDANEGEA. Nowise too partial verdict; 
 The rapture such oped vista in rny breast [emulous 
 Enkindles sating picture which sustains 
 With famed Schoharie pushing rivalry. 
 
 SIR WAI. J. Faithful disciple, instant to defend 
 Your habitation as the King ; whose cause 260 
 Ramified empire strengthened were through your 
 Suppression of the Delawares ; support 
 Towards humbling headstrong Pontiac, as well 
 As at your fiery christening. Tell truth, 
 The borrowed sway that easy, light-held rein 
 Laid on the haunch of your communities 
 At urgent wish of Brunswick's honored House 
 On me devolved ; a tempered tutelage ; 
 Surveillance, which has served, in thin disguise 
 Of teasing curb, the lures to counteract 270 
 
 Of sly self-seekers (with the seemly show 
 Of state annexed to its bland exercise) 
 Could not, through trying span of troubled years, 
 Have been by me administered in just 
 Degree ; maintained in full security, 
 Had not your boundless^ your unfaltering trust 
 Your steadfast and your pure devotion stood 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 51 
 
 Tall bulwark of my person and my place 
 
 Firm holdfast for a way-worn voyager. 279 
 
 THAY. An ingrate I, had I done otherwise ! 
 Who planned to train my mind's crude faculties 1 
 Who showers upon me worldly benefits ? 
 The wine decants of public rectitude 1 
 Ah ! generous patron, golden counsellor, 
 Work deeds of mine can never these requite. 
 
 SIR WM. J. Treating of your domestic happenings 
 You late a close-matched fencing tourney waged, 
 I hear, with your celestial guide the topic sprung 
 Your second marriage. With what wardless lunge 
 Sought you to stab the rigorous tenet : weds 290 
 No man the sister of departed wife ? 
 
 THAY. Such unions I upheld, as I contend, 
 By valid logic theory that one 
 Already a blood-relative would love 
 More tenderly her offspring who had died, 
 Than one confessing no affinity. [to convince ? 
 
 SIR WM. J. You failed, though, austere Stuart 
 
 THAY. Despite my pressing the contention that 
 The wisdom of our tribes endorsed these pacts. 
 Since my rebuff, a German Lutheran 300 
 
 Divine, whose teaching showed more latitude 
 Dared to disown strait-laced theologies 
 Conceded us the boon solicited. 
 
52 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 SIR WM. J. How prospers, by the way, the task 
 Stuart and you proceed in unison ? [with which 
 
 You know I feel a special interest 
 In any such commendable attempts : 
 No spurring needed to co-operate 
 With Colonel Glaus, my elder son-in-law ; 
 Who managed, with much patience, to convert 310 
 Into your Canienga the chaste text 
 Of our surpassless Book of Common Prayer ; 
 Lending the while every encouragement 
 In perfecting his helpful alphabet. 
 
 TIIAY. St. Mark's account has been construed ; 
 
 the Acts 
 Of the Apostles now engages us. 
 
 SIR WM. J. The page will be a during monument ; 
 It to your glory, credit must redound 
 Production worthy, which, I'm satisfied, 
 Will long endear you to posterity. 320 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 63 
 
 SCENE 4. PLACE : Interior of the same. 
 TIME : Christmas, 1773. 
 
 Enter SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON and MAJOR JOHN 
 BUTLER, wJio converse together before a window 
 which commands an unobstructed view of the 
 grounds in front. 
 
 MAJOR BUTLER. Please you it must, Sir William, 
 
 to observe 
 
 The growth prosperity of Johnstown ; how 
 About a slender nucleus has formed 
 The dignified, brisk centre of a shire. 
 
 SIR WM. JOHNSON. Yes ; it has been a child of 
 
 much strong-felt 
 Affection. 
 
 MAJOR BUTLER. You'll not fail to recollect 
 How cordially the Governor approved 
 Its model order ; large contentedness. 
 
 (COLONEL GUY JOHNSON is here seen approaching, 
 with agitation traceable in looks and mien.} 
 
 SIR WM. J. Why hurries Guy this way 1 His 
 A tale of gravest import. [face prefers 
 
54 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 (To Guy Johnson.) Guy, what makes 330 
 
 Your countenance the seat of care reflex 
 Of wan anxiety. 
 
 GUY JOHNSON. Sirs, I have just 
 Returned from Boston ; where still walks abroad 
 Asserts itself through stir assiduous, 
 With gall implacable that bugbear fell, 
 The Tea-tax. Lived again those moments when 
 Choked was in tumult, wrath, its congener, 
 The Stamp Act : then the rabble, need I tell, 
 'Mid other proofs of a fanatic craze, 
 Sacked the Chief Justice' sightly residence ; 340 
 
 And gloating hung in effigy the Stamp- 
 Provider. See things, rumblings, mutte rings 
 Scared mortals treading o'er an -^Etna's crust ; 
 Commotion uproar reigning in all streets ; 
 A very carnival of terrorism. 
 Fluent aspersings of the Monarchy ; 
 Treason, in very truth, hawked everywhere 
 Labelled untainted, licit merclmndise. 
 Gathered upon the wharves I saw a rash 
 A fevered group (whose two-score ringleaders 350 
 Paraded there as buck-skinned savages) 
 Minded to rush to criminal extreme ; 
 Should the officials at the port attempt 
 To board the fleet of bending merchantmen, 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 55 
 
 Then entering the harbor with their freight, 
 To force the loathed impost. This the pale, 
 Uneasy placemen duteous, if not 
 Discreet with dull reluctance set about 
 To do ; the " braves," nimbly forestalling them, 
 Vaulted the gunwales ; with alacrity, 360 
 
 Staving the chests which their distemper stirred, 
 Plunged their contents with fury in the brine. 
 
 SIB WM. J. Patent to me that fresh vitality 
 Was made to animate Sedition's breast 
 By Franklin's greetings. He translated for 
 Its bustling fold sense of the multitude 
 In England that their braving policy's 
 Continuance would melt the Parliament ; 
 Sending therewith (the missives neatly bagged 
 By a recourse to shady artifice) 370 
 
 Scripts of the Massachusetts Governor 
 Of Oliver, his able adjutant 
 Penned months before being trickishly unearthed, 
 (All but two mild ones of the series 
 When not yet seated in their offices) 
 To correspondent on the Commons-Roll ; 
 Coupled with strictures on Bostonians, 
 Roughly arraigning the Assembly's work ; 
 Which pressed its anger sluiced for their recall ; 
 Request we may, with confidence, assume 380 
 
56 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 The Ministry with curtness will rebuke 
 Chilling- asperity refuse outright. 
 
 MAJOR BUTLER. Well, I, for one, feel greatly 
 By the reflection that disorder thrives [comforted 
 Uncertainly in this eloigned vale. 
 
 [Exeunt GUY JOHNSON and MAJOR BUTLER. 
 
 SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON (solus). 
 How I do shrink from the decision, which 
 Will, soon or late, infallibly be thrust 
 Upon me by these gloomy visitants 
 Precursors gruff of my climacteric ! 
 What chance to lessen the disturbances 390 
 
 What prospect to survive in quietude 
 Th' exaggerated tension of the times? 
 Whose form but dangles o'er a precipice ; 
 Or sees above the sword of Damocles ? 
 Reduced are all in common here to suck 
 The bale-fraught vapors of the atmosphere. 
 Nor could I were my havior optional 
 Be satisfied to hedge ; in such ill day 
 Consent to temporize. Find I myself 
 Blest with enjoyment of rare affluence ; 400 
 
 To station lifted of distinction weight 
 Of much consideration in the land, 
 By virtue of the State's munificence. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 57 
 
 The " Royal Grant " douceur conferred of near 
 
 Seventy thousand acres far outstretched 
 
 (The broadest messuage in the colony) 
 
 Commuted fairly though the bounty was 
 
 For zeal intense, life-long activity : 
 
 These, with the dignity of baronet ; 
 
 My son's endowing with the accolade 410 
 
 Could I put off less dunning creditors, 
 
 Quiet the beggar of formed preferences ; 
 
 Apart from the persuasion that my past 
 
 With such endeavor's easiest to be squared, 
 
 Plead with me to maintain the dynasty. 
 
 Impressed am I, nathless, by some of those 
 
 Abuses that the recusants advance 
 
 For disaffection : crusty Governors 
 
 Highly imbued with alien sympathies ; 
 
 The truncheon waving of intolerance ; 420 
 
 Measures conceived to parturition brought 
 
 Without the people's sanction ; others quite 
 
 As rudely thwarted which they advocate : 
 
 Vicious overstepping of prerogatives. 
 
 These levies birth short-sighted, mischievous, 
 
 Laid in defiance of entreaty claimed, 
 
 Despite expostulations lodged by those 
 
 On whom they press ; rule rigid which ordains 
 
 Trans-ocean carriage of commodities 
 
58 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 In British hulls : full grating fiats some 430 
 
 E'en flavored with nutmeg Draconian. 
 
 Howe'er the merits of the sides compare, 
 
 Peril must I when longer none shall be 
 
 Buoyed by illusion, lulled to somnolence 
 
 The life of a full-podded stalk ; when it 
 
 Incumbent is to cross my Rubicon, 
 
 Hazard do I wealth, regal revenues 
 
 All my possessions in a lottery ; 
 
 I when I am compelled to cast the die 
 
 Gamble with power, dominion, influence ; 440 
 
 Hypothecate a priceless property. 
 
 [Exit SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 
 
TH A Y ENDANEGEA. 59 
 
 SCENE 5. PLACE : The Mohawk Valley A public 
 place in Johnstown. 
 
 TIME : June, 1774. 
 Enter THAYENDANEGEA and MAJOR JOHN BUTLER. 
 
 THAYANDANEGEA. Ah! Butler, I have lost my 
 Most gracious benefactor ! [truest friend 
 
 MAJOR BUTLER. Mean you, Brant, 
 
 Noble Sir William 1 
 
 THAY. None, alas, but he. [account. 
 
 MAJOR B. Distressful news ! Give me the full 
 
 THAY. He had been ill ; but his wide tact his 
 Invited to allay a tempest raised [skill 
 
 Amongst our sensitive confederacy, 
 By murders wrought by some Virginians 
 Of members of two Pennsylvania tribes 450 
 
 Heads of the Dela wares, the Shawanese ; 
 Kindred of Logan, the Cayuga (who 
 Labored the coalition to involve 
 In plot to fall upon the border, as 
 Reprisal for this " Cresap " massacre) 
 Duty outvoting prudence ; instantly 
 Misgivings quelled the invalid sunk in 
 
60 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 The pacifier left his couch to hold 
 
 A Council. At the Sittings long drawn out 
 
 He taxed his strength in an exhaustive speech. 460 
 
 This led to irremediable relapse 
 
 Of his complaint. 
 
 MAJOR BUTLER. Bound to be violent 
 Upflaring from that spark ; match lit that fired 
 The magazine ! The panic set afoot, 
 In fact, developed such intensity 
 Mounted so quickly to high-water mark 
 Your synod had convened before my aid, 
 Due as their regular interpreter, 
 Could be bespoken to convey the gist 
 Of the debates. 
 
 THAT. With such wild eagerness 470 
 
 Rushed the grim huntsman to annihilate 
 The stricken quarry, that Sir John ; housed then 
 In former mansion of the baronet 
 Fort Johnson distant, as you know, but nine 
 Quick-traversable miles from thence ; albe 
 Of his condition swift-apprized ; and though, 
 In essay his fleet rival to outstrip, 
 Excelling speed of dust-ringed chariot 
 In ancient games Olympian (his horse, 
 Succumbing to the strain, dropped dead beneath 480 
 His rider, forcing him to beg a friend's) 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 61 
 
 Entered the patient's room only to find 
 The once discerning sense in rouseless state 
 Of coma plunged. 
 
 MAJOR BUTLER. There, chief tain, .was withdrawn 
 A beacon-light for unsure mariners ! 
 Plain finger-post for pilgrim's reference ! 
 His every talent serving to exalt 
 All added graces fitted to adorn 
 A public character ; a stature reached 
 By no contemporary. In statesmanship 490 
 
 (For one with attributes so masterful, 
 Too narrow, too obscure the theatre) 
 Who was with that adept heard to contest 
 The primacy : as guarded as astute 
 In broad negotiations with the tribes 
 Exerting in this field a subtle art 
 Withal, a magic potency (digest 
 Th' immortal treaty with the Senecas ; 
 The fused bands at Stanwix) think how sued 
 To him for pardon lordly Pontiac. 500 
 
 Winning, in youth, through native manfulness, 
 Each tilt with Fortune ; for brain-capital 
 Expended in all walks indemnity. 
 Of War, to our joyed vision, testified 
 He knowledge, like to Olive's, intuitive 
 (Witness Lake George and Fort Niagara). 
 
62 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 A service of his King, which hazard recked 
 
 Not a devotion toil intensified. 
 
 Commerce consider the vast profits reaped 
 
 From early barterings. Holding aloft 510 
 
 The torch of honor and of probity 
 
 In all relations ; wasteful of his time 
 
 Means energy, whene'er the general good 
 
 Required them : loosing, at command, a flood 
 
 Of glowing, of persuasive eloquence ; 
 
 (His lucid play of feature advertised 
 
 The volant envoy from the inner self, 
 
 Trustworthy dial, on whose tell-tale face 
 
 Was read the shifting meter of the soul) 
 
 Focus of social courtesies ; renowned 520 
 
 His wealth of flowing hospitality. 
 
 A temper genial a deportment suave ; 
 
 Consistent, mild humanitarian. 
 
 A churchmanship despising bigotry ; 
 
 As proof hereof stood out his readiness 
 
 (The fragrance from the vased bloom still regales) 
 
 His purse to open to assist the plans 
 
 The hands to strengthen, and the progress aid 
 
 Further the interests of every sect. 
 
 THAY. Yet dissidents amongst the townspeople 
 The rancorous supposition forthwith coined 531 
 
 That he himself faced by th' impending schism, 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 63 
 
 The flame of life had impiously quenched ; 
 
 Judgment they clinch with screws of circumstance : 
 
 Clue hailed as best index of verity, 
 
 The saying, in chance conversation passed 
 
 With a familiar, that he would not be 
 
 Alive to see the Provinces in arms ; 
 
 Dash further of the sauce of likelihood 
 
 To add that on the day of his decease 540 
 
 His lineaments had mirrored singular 
 
 Emotion, packet conning he was then 
 
 Observed to open from the Minister ; 
 
 Requesting action, which would from him have 
 
 Wrested avowal of his sentiments. 
 
 Yet seemed his end entirely natural ; 
 
 For at the Hall my sister read me note, 
 
 Which his physician sent with medicine ; 
 
 In which collapse was pointedly foretold, 
 
 Should strong excitement bodily fatigue 550 
 
 Be undergone. The casual speech which he 
 
 Let fall vague premonition of his near 
 
 Demise merely expressed, which prompted was 
 
 By course of his progressive malady. 
 
 Besides, in April last (indulging vein 
 
 Here, too, of melancholy prophecy) 
 
 He, writing to the Earl of Dartmouth, had 
 
 Supported prayer that his then deputy, 
 
64 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Guy Johnson, should succeed him in his post, 
 
 By statement that his health, at best, was most 560 
 
 Precarious ; the train of physical 
 
 Infirmities his unrelaxed employ 
 
 Civil and military had induced 
 
 Him warning that his early death was all 
 
 Too probable. 
 
 MAJOR BUTLER. Oppressed though you may be, 
 Old friend with him in closest contact brought 
 With sense of loss more personal than ours ; 
 Of one, who, by consent, will occupy 
 Distinguished niche in Fame's high Pantheon ; 
 To whom the living shall a place assign 570 
 
 Red-lettered in Remembrance' calendar ; 
 Whose kindly actions output of a mine 
 Well-nigh exhaustless will (howbeit for good 
 The carnal tent's unstaked) culled ingots, shine, 
 Coruscant in Affection's treasury ; 
 Whose spendthrift generosity which so 
 Impartial showed itself as oftentimes 
 To comprehend, in its vast plenitude, 
 His country's enemies spontaneous 
 Tribute evoked from its recipients, 580 
 
 In presence of this sore bereavement, which 
 Makes poor as well the nation as the King, 
 
 The countryside a common sorrow feels. 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 65 
 
 SCENE 6. PLACE : The Mohawk Valley Farm of 
 JOHN VEEDER, near Caughnawaga. 
 
 TIME : May, 1775. 
 
 A knot of revolutionists a larger gathering surrounding 
 them among whom are the owner of the farm and 
 SAMPSON SAMMONS, are preparing to erect a 
 4 'Liberty Pole." 
 
 SAMPSON SAMMONS (to John Veeder). Be it our 
 
 office, Herr, to imitate 
 Boston's high spirit ; which has suitably 
 Emblem adopting such as we propose 
 Marked its profound abhorrence of this gross, 
 Unending tyranny ; too long in mean 
 Subjection held, blazed its intent to slip 
 The yoke of servitude. 
 
 JOHN VEEDER. Aim I commend. 590 
 
 (Turning to the crowd.) 
 
 Good people ; who by solemn vow are pledged 
 To beard subdue the despot ; end your term 
 As cumbered pack-mules, sweating galley-slaves ; 
 Like Israel under Pharaoh's dominance, 
 Galled drudges of an iron taskmaster, 
 By deeds make good your plighted word ; confirm 
 Your resolution ; climb the steeps ahead ; 
 
 5 
 
66 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Your palms pressing the plough, look not behind. 
 Leaks plugging in your courage, lend a hand 
 To rear our rustic " Pole of Liberty. 7 ' 600 
 
 So seize we glove flung by the Sessions ; so 
 Frame we reply to truckling Magistrates ! 
 
 (They are still busied with the work, when they are 
 interrupted by the arrival of two or three hundred 
 armed retainers of SIR JOHN JOHNSON ; at whose head 
 are the baronet, COLONELS DANIEL GLAUS and GUY 
 JOHNSON, and MAJOR BUTLER. COLONEL Guv JOHNSON, 
 mounting the stoop of the Cauyhnawaga Church a 
 property adjoining tJie Vi&EDEnfarm proceeds to har- 
 angue the assemblage.) 
 
 GUY JOHNSON. What harvest think to glean, 
 
 misguided throng, 
 
 From seed now sown of rank disloyalty ? 
 Though Massachusetts claim the right to base, 
 On pressure of extreme enactments, plea 
 For flying in the face of Government ; 
 Leaving Virginia to nurse her spite 
 Lend pleased asylum to the canker-worm ; 
 Dwells there meet pretext for Disunion's snarl 610 
 (Bad upshot of your shaky sophistries ) 
 In tenor of events transpiring here ? 
 Your trade is not deranged not sealed your ports ; 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 67 
 
 Quartered on you no regulative troops ; 
 
 Wounds bringing smart to a community, 
 
 Which merits well the King's displeasure. Have 
 
 Tour charters been revoked ; impends o'er you 
 
 That lash invented for recalcitrants 
 
 Citation harsh to Westminster for crimes ? 
 
 Reckless, purblind incendiaries, take thought ! 620 
 
 Strife-fanners were a rupture justified 
 
 What genuine assurance of success, 
 
 In guilty call to arms to realize 
 
 Your pestilent theories, poor fools ; which this 
 
 Opening the floodgates of your turbulence ; 
 
 Hasty unbottling of an ogreish force 
 
 (The Fisherman freeing the Genie) 
 
 Directly instigates, can you embrace ? 
 
 Forms the lean episode of Lexington 
 
 That feeble splutter of the minute-men 630 
 
 The bolster for your gospel of disdain ? 
 
 Has our age-owned supremacy become 
 
 So slight a thing so shaken, tottering 
 
 That Albion's stewards overseas could not 
 
 Cohorts enough control to crush your mad 
 
 Revolt ? Your beggarly militia they 
 
 With Britain's seasoned veterans contend ! 
 
 A single ship of her proud navy roar 
 
 From its death-spewing fissures could prevent 
 
68 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 All useful operations on the main. 640 
 
 Laced are the trade-ways by a string of forts. 
 
 Enlist we shall, with ease, upon our side 
 
 The border Indians ; though th' Oneidas have, 
 
 By leaving us untimely in the lurch, 
 
 Their record sullied ; still the Mohawks and 
 
 The Senecas, the Onondagas and 
 
 Cayugas (Tuscaroras, mayhap,) we 
 
 Can summon to our aid if we're attacked. 
 
 Abandon, then ('twill much conduce to your 649 
 
 Own weal) your wilful work yourselves correct 
 
 Its spirit of affront ; arrest, while time 
 
 Befriends, the gangrene of contumacy ; 
 
 Engaol the hydra-felon lawlessness. 
 
 Else, hot-heads, look for some gust-brewing Thor 
 
 That Jo tun of confusion to afflict 
 
 For some avenging Michael, rage-possessed, 
 
 That Belial of defection to o'erthrow. 
 
 SAMPSON SAMMONS. Desist, thou supple tool of 
 State-coddled parcel of subservience, [Royalty ; 
 
 Dam up your sultry pra tings ! What about 660 
 This irksome tribute, that the Parliament 
 Grimly exacts ; high-handed vetoings 
 Imposed on commerce with each foreign mart ; 
 Joined to the British merchants' noxious grant 
 Of a monopoly of gainful trades 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 69 
 
 The fossil ordinance by which we've been 
 
 Barred income from the coastwise fisheries ; 
 
 Used all to render stagnant Traffic's stream ; 
 
 On Progress' vessel stuck like barnacles : 
 
 The mode ta'en th' independence to crush out 670 
 
 The fairness of the Judges, by the Crown's 
 
 Lifting the spoon that buys servility : 
 
 A dogma-harnessed King with Governors ; 
 
 Who, to promote their usurpations ; who, 
 
 In preaching of their brusque evangel, and 
 
 In pushing of their strained pretensions, would 
 
 Tread down intimidate our councillors. 
 
 Why gendered wonder why professed surprise 
 
 When manly, free-born subjects ; staggering 
 
 With burdens under which they groan hewers 680 
 
 Of wood, drawers of water ills resist ; 
 
 Which Life have made a breached citadel ; 
 
 Contentment a crestfallen fugitive ; 
 
 Pleasure a phantom ; Peace a travesty ; 
 
 Which thrust them in a pit of misery ; 
 
 Which hack them with the knife of cruelty : 
 
 Marooning them on Island of Despair, 
 
 Would every hopeful prospect sepulchre ; 
 
 Each reasonable yearning immolate. 
 
 How you misjudge our weakness magnify 690 
 
 Your strength ; unmoved, presuming oracle, 
 
70 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 We list your forecast of our impotence ; 
 
 Await the season of our chastisement 
 
 The promised crashing of the thunderbolt 
 
 With sinews braced. Yain braggart, were you not 
 
 Enthroned their overseer, your crooked power 
 
 Over those blind, unthinking savages, 
 
 On whose co-operation you rely, 
 
 Count would but as the veriest feather-weight. 699 
 
 GUY JOHNSON. Arch-breeder nourisher of dis- 
 Disgusting and how coarse your animus ! [cord, how 
 With what unconscionable acrimony 
 Have you traduced the nation's law-givers ; 
 With what unwearied, blatant vehemence 
 Have you contemned the King's authority ! 
 
 SAMPSON SAMMONS. I would not be the throne- 
 propped minion 
 
 Lower myself to play the sycophant 
 I see before me for the piled wealth 
 Of this fair pleasaunce. 
 
 GUY JOHNSON. Vaporous malcontent ! 
 
 You and your gang of rioters give heed. 710 
 
 Half-wakened Loyalty could want no ruder pinch ; 
 Long-suffering, pocket no grosser wrong. 
 She thus beset, thus hounded feels constrained 
 The muzzle of prevention to apply 
 To Insubordination clap upon 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 71 
 
 Sedition's wrists the handcuffs of restraint ; 
 
 Her interdict 'gainst reinless license turns, 
 
 At last, to promulgate : maddened, insists 
 
 On yonder eyesore being at once laid low 
 
 On shivering of that vile "rock of offence." 720 
 
 Your personal innuendoes, calumnies 
 
 I pass in scornful silence choose to treat 
 
 As flaws from the abominable reek 
 
 Bred in a pest-house of malignity. 
 
 Mutually inflamed, the recriminators rush upon 
 each other, and are only torn apart after a Jurious 
 struggle. SAMMOVS is soon after struck down by a 
 riding-whip in the hands of COLONEL GUY JOHNSON'S 
 equerry. Recovering from the blow, he rises to his 
 feet ; and, discarding his coat, prepares to renew the 
 fight. He is, however, beaten down a second time by 
 a couple of strokes from some King's-man's bludgeon. 
 Rising again, he finds that his sympathizers have all 
 decamped. At this point, the Royalists, having first 
 ivreqihed from its place, and levelled to the earth, 
 the repulsive emblem, also draw off. 
 
 END OP ACT II. 
 
ACT III. 
 
 SCENE 1. PLACE : The Mohawk Valley Guy 
 Parky residence of COLONEL GUY JOHNSON. 
 
 TIME : May, 1775. 
 
 Enter THAYENDANEGEA, SIR JOHN JOHNSON and 
 COLONEL GUY JOHNSON. 
 
 SIR JOHN JOHNSON. These amateur rebuilders 
 
 saviours wise 
 
 Of our rent Commonwealth seem exercised 
 About my attitude. I've cause to know 
 That they dislike those brawny Highlanders 
 (Macdonells with no paltry pedigree) 
 The bulk distributed on my estates, 
 Near Caughnawaga, and about Tribes Hill ; 
 A stalwart brood of native soldiery ; 
 Which new-imported from the parent soil 
 They truly deem unshaken Royalists; 10 
 
 Looking askance, as well with grave mistrust 
 At steps we're taking now to fortify 
 Our manors. 
 
 72 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 73 
 
 GUY JOHNSON. As for ine, great need to be 
 Prepared ; for I've been told, through messages 
 From trusty brethren, that some viperous 
 New Englanders propose to seize me ; I 
 Keep at my beck, in consequence, a squad 
 To fend me were some ill turn to befall. 
 
 SIR JOHN J. I'll wage remembrance of our resolute 
 Protection of the sheriff; whom they chose 20 
 
 To view bedaubed with pitch of Erebus, 
 Rankles in depths of their degenerate breasts. 
 
 THAYENDANEGEA (to Guy Johnson). Bending the 
 
 survey to our household's state 
 You, doubtless, lively pleasure have derived 
 From knowledge that the unmatched usefulness 
 Outspoken ardor of yourself and Frey, 
 As stable buttresses of Monarchy, 
 Lent from this district to the Council : that 
 Your zeal combativeness (prompt to lock horns 
 With sinewed gladiators) these have been 30 
 
 Applauded by the Supervisors. 
 
 GUY JOHNSON. Yes ; 
 
 Their action was as staunch as opportune. 
 Still though they emphasized the doctrine sound, 
 That nothing reckoned indispensable 
 To living was affected by the tax ; 
 Nor general trade, through its exaction, hurt, 
 
74 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 The Tryon Magistracy's Sessions' views 
 
 Cropped out in most explicit verbiage : 
 
 " Spurn we the thought of other partnerships ; 
 
 We cannot tolerate time-servers ; we 40 
 
 Scorn to descend to phrase equivocal, 
 
 Slipping from tongues of spineless waverers." 
 
 The Council, furthermore, have negatived 
 
 A motion made to thank the delegates 
 
 To the initial Congress ; while they froze 
 
 Another to appoint fresh Amorites. 
 
 I might remark, here, incidentally, 
 
 That I have cautioned Kirkland ; who the nod 
 
 Accepts from Boston's offal, to refrain 
 
 From stirring up (his will, you know, with them 
 
 Is paramount) th' Oneidas 'gainst the King. 51 
 
 Petitioned by the Bund to mediate 
 
 With flexile boughs of the confederacy, 
 
 One willing function he discharges now 
 
 Judged this to be by Massachusetts Bay 
 
 Malignants a proceeding politic 
 
 Is conduit for transmitting to his charge 
 
 Of Indians the Congress' doings, met 
 
 At Philadelphia. Friends, recognize 
 
 In him we must a shrewd antagonist ; 60 
 
 Having already the Oneidas pledged 
 
 To the adoption of a neutral stand : 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 75 
 
 Though I much fear they'll yet decide to grasp 
 The hatchet for the insurrectionists. 
 
 SIR JOHN J. The impudent contrivance to allure, 
 By counsel tendered through the Mohicans, 
 The purer factors of that notable 
 Amalgam to the separatists' camp, 
 I'm pleased to learn, though, has been profitless. 
 Mention of Kirkland, by the by, reminds 70 
 
 Of Joseph's rather crabbed aphorism ; 
 (The quip have I permission to retail 1) 
 When stumbling on an apple, none too ripe : 
 " As sour as any Congregational." 
 
 THAY. The ill-luck that befell the carrier 
 Of the remonstrance sounded by our chiefs 
 To those defaulters ; wherein I, the scribe, 
 Ventured to chide them for their dalliance 
 With phase of your kidnapping, Colonel Guy 
 Unseasonable loss of the despatch, 80 
 
 After prehension by unfriendly hand 
 That two-pronged misadventure, no doubt, brought 
 Kirkland a whetstone whereupon to edge 
 His skill to nullify our influence. 
 I late received a letter from my good 
 Old teacher, Doctor Wheelock ; in it he 
 Invited me to back the Colonists. 
 I winged him blunt retort ; saying I could 
 
76 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Not disobey his grand injunction pressed : 
 " While serving God, through each mutation shaped, 
 To honor steadfastly whole-heartedly 91 
 
 The King ; always contented subjects live." 
 
 SIR JOHN J. Rejoinder, truly, most appropriate ; 
 Eock-builded purpose travelled in its strain ! 
 
 (A large concourse of Indians is noticed entering t/ie 
 park enclosure.) 
 
 GUY JOHNSON. My Mohawks come, bid to a 
 colloquy ! 
 
 (The Indians, having ranged tJiemselves conveniently 
 around him, are now addressed by their Superin- 
 tendent.) 
 
 True-hearted tribesmen ! I have little fear 
 
 That you'll not stay us in extremity ; 
 
 Still, would I, warriors, have you ponder facts, 
 
 Which, clarion-lunged, ask your fidelity : 
 
 The foremost England's magnanimity; 100 
 
 Her upright, honest treatment of your race 
 
 For cycle that o'erruns a century ; 
 
 The furnishing of forts to stem the French 
 
 Incursions. Safety gave she to your trade ; 
 
 When guilds among the Dutch, at Albany 
 
 Intriguing openly to cross you would 
 
 Fain have admitted the destructionist. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 77 
 
 And did they not grafts from that pelf-grained 
 
 Having, with promise of fair-dealing, once [stock 
 
 Bargained with you for highly-favored slice 110 
 
 Of your domains productive champaign near 
 
 Shenectady with peerless hardihood, 
 
 O'erlook the crucial incident of pay ? 
 
 Where found to-day that grasping company ] 
 
 Do they not herd with the Provincials : pant 
 
 Afflictive even mortal blow to deal 
 
 At British influence ; intruded oft 
 
 As an impervious barricade to shield 
 
 You ; pitted ever warmly, avidly, 
 
 Against their devious conspiracies ? 120 
 
 Braves, mindful of that unblest interval ; 
 
 Break when Warraghiyagey did resign 
 
 The seals of office to Commissioners 
 
 (A venal board, not answerable save 
 
 To partial Junta of the colony) 
 
 Espy you not a just criterion 
 
 Should the insurgents (Heaven forfend) succeed, 
 
 In selfishness innate uncharity 
 
 Of churls (who, ledger-married, scout the " Live 
 
 And let live" ban the civil ethics such 130 
 
 Terse sermon recommends) by which to judge 
 
 Their wild, disruptive faction's future acts ? 
 
 Are you not certain to be flouted ay 
 
7S THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Elbowed aside ? Wreaking on you a spleen 
 
 Retributive, all debts will they not squeeze 
 
 With usury ? Be wise, then, in your day 
 
 And generation ! Load the scale with us ! 
 
 Your prowess, so expended, must preclude 
 
 Arrival of such dread catastrophe : 
 
 Mohawks, abstain from mixing for yourselves 140 
 
 Ingredients of a cup of bitterness ! 
 
 Pause, Mohawks, ere assuring for yourselves 
 
 A dismal epoch of adversity ! 
 
 OANASTOTA. Have thou, our apt, high-minded 
 
 mentor, no 
 
 Concern for us ; warm-nested memories 
 Of favors done us by Sir William thought 
 Of his ungrudging care, kind guardianship ; 
 Of his disinterested benevolence ; 
 Even were motives far less capital 
 Adduced than those, by which you urgently 150 
 Exhort us at this juncture ominous 
 T' approve our stand as Britain's liegemen, would 
 Alone suffice to fix our constancy ; 
 With hooks us fasten to his family. 
 
 [Exeunt omnes. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 79 
 
 SCENE 2. PLACE : Montreal Executive-Mansion. 
 
 Enter THAYENDANEGEA, SIR GUY CARLETON and 
 COLONEL GUY JOHNSON. 
 
 SIR GUY CARLETON. Colonel, I understand that 
 
 you and Brant 
 
 Tried standby of the House of Hanover ; 
 Whose compact sworn with ancient Albion 
 Has been kept strictly held inviolate ; 
 Whom we must thank for having volunteered 
 To lend his nation as material 160 
 
 To caulk the seams in our adventurous 
 In our gale-braving, our high-riding bark : 
 As solder to repair the crevices, 
 Which Time, the licensed tamperer unseen, 
 Insidious erosive ; noiseless, yet 
 Unresting frayer rude disintegrant 
 In the utensil must create, intend 
 To visit in the fall the Mother-land. 
 
 COL. GUY JOHNSON. Yes, there is much to lay 
 
 before the throne ; 
 
 Chief point the wisdom and propriety 170 
 
 Of an employment of the Indians. 
 
 SIR GUY C. Use the occasion, prithee, to impart 
 True inwardness of the embroglio ; 
 
80 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Advise whose are the hands that intermix 
 The livening yeast with that intestine dough. 
 
 (To Thay.} As to a union with the savages 
 Brant, think you you can check their fieriness ; 
 Coax some accession to their ballasting ? 
 You know my feeling ; that I deprecate 
 A general service of these adjuvants; 180 
 
 Believing that it should be limited 
 To work of scouts, of guides and couriers ; 
 Quick-scented beagles to beat up the game. 
 
 THAYENDANEGEA. Your Excellency may rest 
 That, subjected to prudent oversight [satisfied 
 
 (And such shall not be wanting, I engage,) 
 They will not prove themselve's refractory ; 
 Will neither cut the cords of discipline ; 
 Nor deviate from the grooves of steadiness. 
 Our course, Sire, should moreover, I submit, 190 
 Be regulated by the enemy's : 
 Who furbished up their stock appliances 
 Their gullets tempt with every sort of bait ; 
 Their nostrils titillate with odorous musk ; 
 Their ears besiege with specious oratory : 
 Approach with presents offer bonuses 
 As taking fillips to lay by the heels 
 A plethora of fighting Royalists ; 
 J)raw herrings numerous across the 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 81 
 
 In hope of vanquishing the scruples which 200 
 
 They feel about deserting their allies. 
 
 SIB GUY C. I trust they may not, chief, fail in 
 
 the test. 
 
 Be this, however, as it may, you're sure 
 Of cordial reception from the King. 
 
 THAY. Kora, the scent of war kindles my blood 
 Implanted in nursed by th' aborigine 
 A love of Nature, Nature's harmonies. 
 Thrilled is he by the outlook on the heavens' 
 Coinpareless majesty their stately calm 
 Their deep and pure infinitude ; takes joy 210 
 
 From their resplendent streaking coloring. 
 While prizing high those sovereign delights ; 
 Nature's soul-filling, sweet tranquillity ; 
 Uplifted, when intently pondering 
 The strikingness of her phenomena 
 Attracted by the wondrous pageantry, 
 Hushed in the presence of the mysteries : 
 Though charmed, too, by Music's dulcet tones 
 The ecstasies it yields, the solacements 
 Rich concord, innocent of parallel ; 220 
 
 Music, with its mystical influence 
 Touching appeal, heart-message recondite ; 
 Music with its enjoyment sensuous 
 Impassioned flow, vibrating utterance ; 
 
82 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 The deep-mouthed organ's bold, exultant note 
 Sonorous swell ; the pedalled harpischord's 
 Appeasing melody soft cadences ; 
 More keenly stirred am I more mightily 
 By peal of trumpet, noise of drum ; these make 
 My heart beat quick each fibre permeate. 230 
 
 [Exeunt omnes. 
 
 SCENE 3. PLACE : Plain adjoining Fort Niagara. 
 TIME : September, 1776. 
 
 A largely-attended convention of chiefs and warriors of 
 the Six-Nations, Dela wares, Chippewas, Wyandots, 
 Pottawatomies, and other tribes found assembled 
 under a spacious marquee ; with MAJOR JOHN 
 BUTLER, as Superintendent of Indian Affairs, pro 
 tern., presiding. 
 
 MAJOR JOHN BUTLER (addressing the congress). 
 Proud stems of the historic Iroquois ; 
 Chiefs, warriors, from west from south 
 Who with my precept have so willingly 
 Complied ; the arched horizon everywhere 
 O'ercast the look-out on all sides such as to breed 
 Concern I ask all those comprising this 
 Impressive gathering to intimate 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 83 
 
 Their views. The discontented shoot throws off 
 
 The mask ; till last July he brayed pretence 
 
 Of warring for a meliorated sway ; 240 
 
 With folly since a childish waywardness 
 
 He's frankly mutinied : has seized the ship ; 
 
 Yard-armed the helmsman, and the captain brained ; 
 
 Has rudder smashed, and friendly compass spurned. 
 
 Weighing pivotal feature of the strife, 
 
 How much endurance pertinacity 
 
 What grade of stamina should be to men, 
 
 Think you, attributed, who find themselves 
 
 Hunted in half a year from Canada 1 
 
 Sequel promoted when we checkmate dealt 250 
 
 Vainglorious Allen through his prisonment ; 
 
 Sequel assured when they repulse severe 
 
 (Six-Nations, you, its leading instruments) 
 
 In impact at the " Cedars " (fuming surge, 
 
 Which, blending erelong with the placider 
 
 " Cascades," reforms its mood ; buries its wrath 
 
 In bowl of Lake St. Louis) underwent. 
 
 There had they never feeblest footing got, 
 
 Had not its people lacked stability ; 
 
 Lost to all pride, all decency, while swift 260 
 
 To demonstrate their flabby loyalty, 
 
 Forced us unbar both Chamble'e and St. John's : 
 
 Cause that for our vacating Montreal. 
 
84 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 SANGUERACHTA (spokesman for the Senecas). 
 From porters at the western threshold placed, 
 Friends kinsmen to our time-creased heritage 
 A cordial welcome, though the storm-cloud lowers ; 
 (Would you were guests at jocund festival ; 
 Were bidden but to smoke the calumet) 
 To region where ; while yet th' indulgent seas 
 Walled out the white man's wilting avarice, 270 
 Our fathers coursed, at will, the prairie ; or, 
 Upspringing, faced the wild's fierce tenantry ; 
 When they, the zestful chase' sole devotees, 
 The bow-string curved the cleaving paddle flashed ; 
 New-comers none them seeking to supplant. 
 Age that of lustre dignity which oft, 
 Detained in fancy's mesh, I contemplate ; 
 When was the wigwam liberally decked 
 With moving trophies garniture of war ; 
 When bred was stock of mould inflexible 280 
 
 Strangers to aught less than pre-eminence, 
 Each one an independent emperor 
 Souls that dictation brooked, supremacy 
 Allowed of none. Existence halcyon ; 
 Spinning whose web of silken filaments, 
 Each, care-shelved, realized without alloy ; 
 Days beatific days exuding balm ; 
 Quaffing, from hour to hour, whose nectared draughts; 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 85 
 
 Looting whose honey's store, each, toying, passed 
 
 In luxury. Adverting, delegates, 290 
 
 To object vital of our being convoked 
 
 Warders of a protracted frontier-line, 
 
 We may, in course of the vicissitudes 
 
 Traced on past battle for the continent ; 
 
 Whose echo still resounds, a waiting game 
 
 Have played ; shown vacillation fickleness ; 
 
 Coquetted archly with the combatants. 
 
 Opposed we overtures for building forts, 
 
 As menaces to our ascendancy ; 
 
 So treating these, long frowned on compromise 
 
 Deaf were to prayer alike of English and 301 
 
 Of French. Evincing, pVaps, duplicity, 
 
 Our minds not always may, with guardedness, 
 
 Entry have barred for Jesuitic guile. 
 
 But now since England sceptres Canada 
 
 Should we our tribal countenance extend 
 
 To revolution, in collision we 
 
 Would come incessantly with border-tribes : 
 
 Delivered, then, our vote unanimous 
 
 To furnish fuel for that engine, which, 310 
 
 Over this western territory, would 
 
 Trample the sprite of shared authority. 
 
 THAYENDANEGEA (Spokesman for the Mohawks). 
 Brothers of our robust alliance you, 
 
86 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Connections valued from less blight-hung clime 
 
 Reached is try to conceal it as we may 
 
 Tremendous crisis in our history : 
 
 Looms large athwart our pathway, sagamores, 
 
 Shape of the leering gnome of destiny ! 
 
 If we may not elude, what effort should 
 
 We practise to retard, its chill embrace 1 320 
 
 Knot with the billet's mass incorporate, 
 
 Obstruct the Mohawks shall, with bribeless will, 
 
 Th' inserted wedge of smooth persuasion; while 
 
 Besetments parrying, with sense alert, 
 
 Of shrewd enticement, soft-keyed flattery, 
 
 With stores eked out from Circe's arsenal ; 
 
 Combat to latest gasp each agency, [wrench : 
 
 Which from their customed moorings would them 
 
 Shall watchmen at east door of the abode 
 
 Scorn the coin minted to seduce their faith ; 
 
 Fling in the givers' teeth their subsidies. 330 
 
 For have there not repeatedly been flashed 
 
 Before us tokens of the fate we'll meet ; 
 
 Let but this set of throne-sub verters, who 
 
 Law would uproot tradition violate 
 
 Such anarch clique attain predominance ? 
 
 Low conduct of the Dutch at Albany 
 
 (Some pillars of the new Republic) when 
 
 Favoring the French they strove to dispossess 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 87 
 
 Us of the fur- trade. Promptly these the State 340 
 Its wholesome power put forth to circumvent. 
 With other things combined (extensive as 
 Uncheerf ul catalogue) to wake distrust ; 
 Remembering, chiefs, that interregnum's stress, 
 To England ; since her rule has ever been 
 Beneficent ; because her liberal genius 
 Her spirit tolerant its seal impressed 
 On polity, which, through its processes, 
 Metes equity ; I, their exponent, pledge, 
 Without reserve, my tribe's allegiance. 350 
 
 SPOKESMAN FOR THE CAYUGAS. Our lands imping- 
 ing on the Senecas', 
 
 The grounds famed Sanguerachta doth accent 
 To mark their course, to us dictate 
 A like conclusion ; his rehearsal clear 
 Presentment as concise, as pertinent 
 Action consentient from our tribe doth prompt. 
 Started in flight the arrow of my thought ! 
 
 SPOKESMAN FOR THE ONONDAGAS. From early 
 
 dawn of the Confederacy, 
 To us, as keepers watchful sedulous 
 Replenishes of ancient Council-Fires, 360 
 
 The privilege of last-urged rhetoric 
 Belongs ; not without zest we exercise 
 Right of propounding binding theories. 
 
88 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 But since th' Oneidas Tuscaroras (limbs 
 
 Of worth) have hither failed to congregate, 
 
 In force which might, with apt authority, 
 
 Permit them plainly to enunciate 
 
 Their tribes' positions, laid on us the need 
 
 At moment premature to intervene. 
 
 We're pleased at not being now constrained to state 
 
 Divergent doctrine ; make we common cause 371 
 
 With our associates. The strait demesnes 
 
 Of the Cayugas serving warningly 
 
 For western boundary ; their lake-starred home 
 
 Being eastern portal of the Senecas : 
 
 With those safe claimants to hegemony, 
 
 The forceful Mohawks, at the farther east 
 
 Oneidas, Tuscaroras, forming but 
 
 Illusive buffer clearly we'd betray 
 
 Imperfect judgment, acting otherwise. 380 
 
 We can't omit this opportunity 
 
 To reason with those weak-kneed fellows sprigs 
 
 Of the Oneidas, Tuscaroras ; would 
 
 Beg them a stiffer vein to cultivate : 
 
 Have them shake off their torpor, drowsiness ; 
 
 Be more than puppets twitched automata ; 
 
 The urgency enforce the seemliness 
 
 Of coming forward speedily with help ; 
 
 On them the wisdom, duty inculcate 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 89 
 
 Of diligent contention in our cause. 390 
 
 'Ware all the lined palm of the recreants ; 
 As idle make their craft, as when his gin 
 The fowler spreads within his victim's sight. 
 
 [Exeunt omnes. 
 
 SCENE 4. PLACE : THAYENDANEGEA'S forest-camp 
 near Unadilla. 
 
 Enter THAYENDANEGEA and CANASTOTA. 
 
 THAYENDANEGEA. The forage-parties, Canastota, 
 I bade you raise to scour the pastures have [which 
 You their report ? You know our plight (is not 
 Our sum of tribulations openly 
 To all disclosed T) how as the piteous 
 Result of weary penning in the sour, 
 Infertile wilderness, whence we have late 400 
 
 Escaped, our patient warriors pinched are ; 
 Enfeebled ; famine-ground. 
 
 CANASTOTA. Their quest, I am 
 
 Apprised, has been rewarded by such haul 
 Of cattle as will tide us o'er the stress 
 Amply relieve the hour's necessities. 
 
 Enter a Courier. 
 
 (To Thay.} Accept my salutations, powerful chief ! 
 Despatched am I by General Herkimer 
 
90 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 He chairman chosen of the Committee 
 Of Safety for this hapless circuit. His 
 Headquarters have been daily visited 410 
 
 By fluttered residents weak settlers, whom 
 (All blindly guessing why 'tis introduced) 
 Your tribal strength dismays. Him they implored, 
 With hurried breath, and mien aghast their brains 
 A-reel, and nerves on rack ; with hueless cheeks 
 And quaking joints, to send a messenger 
 T'extract from you the reason of your braves' 
 Converging here in War's dyed panoply. 
 Names he in this (handing a letter) a certain rendez- 
 Where viands of discourse may be between [vous ; 
 You freely interchanged ; a suite of six, 421 
 
 At most, he with him brings ; that number he, 
 In fairness, thinks that yours should not exceed. 
 
 THAY. Do thou assure him I shall keep the tryst. 
 Convey from me atop of this demand 
 That those our fenceless brethren Mohawks, who ; 
 When our more lusty scions last year faced 
 Toward Oswego, duressed were, in hopes 
 Of purchasing my inactivity, 
 
 Should be accorded prompt deliverance ; 430 
 
 Further, that Major Butler's family 
 For him, at Albany, as sureties held 
 Be free to join him at Niagara. 
 [Exit COURIER, and exeunt THAY. and CAN. severally. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 91 
 
 SCENE 5. PLACE : An open space near Unadilla 
 Encampment of BRIGADIER-GENERAL HERKIMER. 
 
 TIME : July 4th, 1777. 
 
 GENERAL HERKIMER, COLONEL Cox and officers of 
 the General's staff noticed in the foreground ; an im- 
 posing force of militia found posted at a short dis- 
 tance from them. 
 
 GEN. HERKIMER. Hail we this morn with rever- 
 The first inspiring anniversary [ent acclaim, 
 
 Of beating out the precious lamina 
 Fair scroll through which our sons repudiate 
 The helot-bondage of the Autocrat ! 
 
 COL. Cox. All ranks shall quire the thankful 
 
 chant. T' infuse 
 
 Into our breasts more fervid glow, 'tis told 440 
 
 That Gansevoort ; when noised the rumor was 
 That he would be assailed from Canada ; 
 Determining to be the earliest 
 To float the standard which the Congress had 
 Evolved sore-driven for material 
 Did Stanwix' frowning parapet adorn 
 With bunting, whose eccentric blend amazed : 
 Fashioned the emblem's parallels of stripes 
 
92 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Alternate of a soldier's cotton shirt. 
 And plump camp-woman's scarlet petticoat ; 450 
 The clustered stars with deftness interweaved 
 Their azure field from cloak of camelot. 
 
 GEN. HERKIMER. Good troth, as admirable a dis- 
 Of spirited invention, as it seemed [p^ a y 
 
 A burst of patriotic enterprise. [sentiment 
 
 COL. Cox. Defrayed the homage claimed from 
 I marvel Brant should show such backwardness, 
 In answering your rational request 
 For statement of the purport of his trip. 
 
 GEN. H. If I mistake not, the War-Captain comes. 
 
 (Enter THAYENDANEGEA, accompanied by CAPTAIN 
 
 WILLIAM JOHNSON, CANASTOTA, BULL, and two 
 
 other subordinate chiefs of the Moliawks.) 
 
 Thayendanegea, sometime honored friend, 461 
 
 Well met ! Though we might you of tardiness 
 Accuse, the lapse from punctuality's 
 Condoned. 
 
 THAYENDANEGEA. Inform me of the purpose, pray, 
 Of your inviting me thus loftily 
 To your encampment ! 
 
 GEN. HERKIMER. Just to do myself 
 The pleasure of renewing our disturbed 
 Acquaintance. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 93 
 
 THAY. Object highly plausible ! 
 
 (turning to the militia) 
 This lowering array have they, likewise, 
 In coming here, by kindred sentiments 470 
 
 Been actuated ; all so amiably 
 Desirous the poor Indian to greet ? 
 Tis kind extremely kind ! 
 
 GEN. HERKIMER. But, seriously, 
 
 Good Brant, what benefit to you and yours 
 Hop'st to procure from their infatuate 
 Apparelling in Serfdom's livery 
 Retention of the shackles it entails 1 
 Are not you Tories playing all a losing game 1 
 Inclined your anchors, are they not, to drag 1 
 Find'st satisfaction cheer from your midnight 
 Surprise at Trenton (that aberrant form 481 
 
 Of Christmas box) wouldest for comfort, or 
 For solace to th' affair at Princeton turn 
 That so ungracious New Year's after-clap 1 
 
 THAY. On your own ground (for fender a cuirass 
 Of soldiery) 'tis laudable to twit ! 
 Be not too sanguine of a prosperous 
 Conclusion to Rebellion's mad career. 
 Has its polluted stream so far pursued 
 A current equable ? Allowing that 490 
 
 In those incipient tussles German bands 
 
94 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Tasted misfortune ; are they not by Howe's 
 
 Early successes easily outweighed ? 
 
 Solid the gains those arms retaliate. 
 
 Do not the legions of that General 
 
 With front invincible cool dogged ness 
 
 From foothold in the Province still exclude 
 
 Your mainstay, Washington ; from York's staunch 
 
 His so desponding, fagged battalions keep 1 [gates 
 
 Long Island to which huddled rout lent I 500 
 
 My aidance ; the White Plains why these alone 
 
 (Naught said of trend glimpsed though Burgoyne's 
 
 More than offset your meagre victories. [advance) 
 
 On our side, also, of the sheet include 
 
 The vain diversion of Montgomery, 
 
 Against an unoffending Canada ; 
 
 That courted failure misthrown seed from which 
 
 We barned the sheaves ; its author's fall 
 
 Heroic all must grant discomfiture, 
 
 Toilsome retreat of Arnold (soon submerged 510 
 
 The fame transcendent of the Kennebec) 
 
 Tail of the gaunt procession apogee 
 
 Of the eclipse recapture of Crown Point. 
 
 GEN. H. Interred those salient scraps of history 
 Can you not, chieftain, otherwhere discern ; 
 Are there not warnings chalked full legibly 
 Staring JBelshazzarean presages 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 95 
 
 Of rapid downfall of your principles ? 
 
 Attracted to our righteous flag have been 
 
 The backbone of the country well-nigh all 520 
 
 Its sturdy yeomanry ; rally around 
 
 Us, too, cream of the trading-populace. 
 
 Meanwhile, to strangle infant liberties, 
 
 Your King a pack of loutish Hessians, 
 
 Ignoble hirelings without vestige they 
 
 Of nerving stake in the result enlists. 
 
 THAY. Fond viewer of the mote in brother's eye, 
 While lodged a beam in thine, that rusty piece 
 Recoils. Misstep of your apostate sect 
 Such cant demolishes. For aliment 530 
 
 For the dwarf foundling, through sharp throes 
 
 accouched, 
 
 Have not its nurses Prussia Poland milked ? 
 Beholden are you not as almoner 
 To Lafayette ; to whom, while helping him 
 To jam propitiatory, you've stretched the hand 
 Of unctuous fellowship ; queer strap that binds 
 Louis-Seize gallants and your Demos crew. 
 A member, Herkiiner, methinks, of a 
 Society of prideless pensioners 
 
 Comes feebly armed to read that homily 540 
 
 Is scarcely qualified to lecture other folk 
 For errors such as you comment upon. 
 
96 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 An antique proverb nicely fits the case : 
 People who live in tenements of glass 
 Could not be too unready to throw stones. 
 Travelling farther still afield to lay 
 In rest polemic spears as yet unhurled 
 Your courier presented my demands ? 
 
 GEN. H. So you remove your kin to nooks remote, 
 Compliance is conceded with that term. 
 With point that touches Butler's household, I 551 
 May, unassisted, not presume to deal. 
 
 THAY. Heap I on those first wants this supplement : 
 That our loved missionary, Stuart, who ; 
 Shunning its quicksand caves cries out upon 
 The animosities of politics, 
 Cessation know of treatment bowelless ; 
 Should respite have from rude espionage ; 
 Else option to migrate to Canada. 
 
 GE.V. H. He must attemper his enthusiasms ; 
 Refrain from intercession for the King : 561 
 
 Let him subscribe our articles, if he 
 Disbursings would of leniency acquire. 
 
 COL. Cox (to Gen. H.). Obliged are you not, General, 
 
 to postpone 
 
 This sprightly duel 1 Have you not engaged 
 Schuyler to meet to-day at Harfcwick's Grant ? 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 97 
 
 GEN. H. (to Thay.). I am reminded, Brant, that other 
 Infringe upon our parley (we had looked [calls 
 
 For your appearance here some days ago). 
 Would you object, then, to take up the thread 570 
 Of mutual converse, at identical 
 Hour on the morrow at the self -same place ? 
 
 THAY. Howbeit, Herkimer, I can detect 
 No useful end that's served by lengthening 
 Our dialogue, I in th' arrangement broached 
 Am fain to acquiesce. 
 
 GEN. H. (offering his hand). Part friends till then. 
 [Exeunt the hostile groups severally. 
 
 SCENE 6. PLACE : Headquarters of GEN. 
 HERKIMER the Commander's tent. 
 
 Enter GENERAL HERKIMER and JOSEPH WAGGONER. 
 
 GEN. HERKIMER. I ask you, Waggoner, an 
 
 enterprise 
 
 To shoulder which demands alertness ; fund 
 Of circumspection ; much cool-headed ness. 579 
 
 JOSEPH WAGGONER. General, you may rely on me 
 Aught lying in weak man's capacity. [to do 
 
 GEN. H. Good henchman, there exists an absolute 
 Necessity to rid ourselves of Brant. 
 7 
 
98 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Could we the underpinning from beneath 
 The structure of the Indian compact sweep 
 (From first mad outbreak of the contest such 
 Thayandanegea has supplied) its fate 
 We might with fair approach to certainty 
 Predict. 
 
 Jos. W. Should I in secret poniard him 1 
 Charged such back-thrust with o'ermuch infamy ! 590 
 
 GEN. H. Tuggings of conscience must be disallowed. 
 Opinion of our Committee you know : 
 Resolved by them of vital consequence 
 To geld his energies by causing his arrest. 
 Why not apply the surer remedy 1 
 Select with care, then, partners to assist 
 You in the deed's performance ; have it come 
 To pass before the hour when we resume 
 Discussion : fitting means you must concoct. 599 
 
 Jos W. Your mandate I'll fulfil; though kept the 
 Salt of my manhood will be sacrificed. [bond 
 
 [Exit GEN. HERKIMER. 
 I dare not perpetrate this wickedness. 
 I'll find some way of sending word to Brant, 
 That he may have within convenient reach 
 Support such as would make it critical 
 In any wise to interfere with him. 
 
 [Exit JOSEPH WAGGONER. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 SCENE 7. PLACE : The same as Scene 5. 
 
 (The several characters, with their attendants^ dis- 
 covered as before.) 
 
 THAYENDANEGEA. I've hither, Herkimer, returned 
 Tis idle further to negotiate : [to say 
 
 Honor integrity forbid that I 
 Should, in the slenderest particular, 610 
 
 Avoid the burden of the covenant 
 Which binds me to the British interest. 
 Sustained by living forces my regard ; 
 Twined with the fibres my ne'er bartered creed ! 
 Schuyler too hastily consoled himself 
 With the belief that he had mesmerized 
 Our tribes, when were effusive belts exchanged 
 With them, two years ago, at Albany ; 
 Humored himself too far when he supposed 
 Their services support were vendible : 620 
 
 We with the English mean to sink or swim. 
 Our cantons feared not to stand out against 
 A State united ; shall we be deterred 
 From conflict, with such State cloven in two. 
 Unflinching may be your Bostonians ; 
 Yet shall King George completely humble them. 
 
100 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 COL. Cox. If such the chief's unalterable resolve, 
 Drowned, as result, I ween's our conference. 
 
 THAT. Ha ! Colonel Cox plays us an interlude. 
 Are you not Klock, the trader's son-in-law ; 630 
 That juggling fleecer of our " planting-grounds " 
 Splendid exemplar of maleficence : 
 A traffic founding upon human woes, 
 To doting braves dispenser liberal 
 Of the vile potion that inebriates ; 
 Those draughts pernicious which, unfailing, cloud 
 Too oft dethrone their reason ; which, with speed, 
 Annul their self-control ; which, presently, 
 Mad-slaying all the gentler, set ablaze 
 The baser, guiltier promptings, of their hearts ; 640 
 Through acts announced flagitious, bestial ; 
 The man transforming to insensate fiend ? 
 How flourishes the exile ? 
 
 COL. Cox. Should I here 
 
 Profess myself to be such relative, 
 What's that to you, accursed Indian ; 
 Hankering for swill lairing with feculence ? 
 
 (THAYENDANEGEA here gives vent to a whistle, which 
 causes two or three hundred Indians to appear at 
 the verge of the forest.} 
 
 THAY. (to Gen. Herkimer). Rightly dost cower, 
 reptile venomous ! 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 101 
 
 Traitor detestable ! not taunt alone, 
 
 With passion flung from yon low partisan 
 
 (Spite ribaldry I vow, which thy base heart 650 
 
 Approves) goad sharper than his insolence 
 
 Drave me to rouse those forest denizens. 
 
 The rather have I thus my might proclaimed ; 
 
 Since thou, who call'st thyself a soldier ; thou 
 
 Pinnacled shepherd of the patriot flock 
 
 In these distracted borders yestere'en 
 
 Didst stoop with hellish instinct to evolve 
 
 Dark plot to overpower dispatch me ere 
 
 Our ruptured palaver should be renewed. 
 
 Becomes thee well to wince fall back abashed 
 
 For had not one of those coarse myrmidons, 661 
 
 Whom thou hadst close-suborned to work thy will 
 
 (More tender than the chief conspirator) 
 
 Crept to me and divulged that black device 
 
 (Censure of his compeers how withering, 
 
 How stern, that decorous repentance breathed ! ) 
 
 Silenced, I trow, had been the tongue which now 
 
 Reviles thee. 
 
 GEN. HERKIMER. Disavow I cannot, chief, 
 Th J intention which provoked your outraged soul 
 To pour that lava-stream of contumely ; 
 Aught urge that's like your heat to mollify. 670 
 My one plea for procedure, which you brand 
 
102 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 As treachery, our party's exigence ; 
 
 Belief that were the tribes abruptly torn 
 
 From your control ; were they no longer bound 
 
 To the strained system of the Royalists, 
 
 By the tough girdle of your influence, 
 
 We might if not for their secession look 
 
 Persuade them to be neutrals in the strife. 
 
 THAT. Most competent, i' faith, the casuist 
 Who his malfeasance thus would palliate ! 680 
 
 When limberer code born of morality 1 
 Though lawful fear of dimming your as yet 
 Unsmirched escutcheon as a child of Mars 
 Availed not to restrain from perfidy ; 
 Spake not bright years of friendship intercourse 
 Freely pursued, when almost joined our snug, 
 Our shaded farmsteads 1 Have those vintages 
 All scaped the wine-press *? Herkimer, how should 
 Your bosom's ore endure the crucible ? 
 Left vileness, guilt left shame, impurity 690 
 Light residue of flawless mineral ! 
 Your bosom's growth what, after winnowing 1 
 Binned rancor, hate binned wrong, obliquity 
 Spare quantity of 'clean, unrusted grain ! 
 
 GEN. H. Abuse opprobrium cannot recall 
 A dead transaction. But this prancing throng 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 103 
 
 (turning to tJie braves) 
 Are they designed to serve as instruments 
 To point the blemish of the boomerang ; 
 Which aimed has been awry pitched clumsily 
 By making me the victim of your ire ? 700 
 
 THAT. I tendered you that spectacle to show 
 I'm not a foeman to be trifled with ; 
 Clearly to voice the truth that I possess 
 Resources that will justify my stay ; 
 Should you compound not with us peaceably ; 
 Should it not be accepted quietly, 
 Compel fulfilment of my mission here 
 The victualling of my needy warriors. 
 But if so be withdrawal of my host 
 Disquiet should abate expel alarm 710 
 
 The note significant is uttered which 
 Will recommit them to their solitudes. 
 
 (THAYENDANEGEA here sounds the signal of dispersal ; 
 to which his warriors yield instant obedience, by 
 burying themselves, en masse, in the Jorest.) 
 
 Coward ! chew this for valedictory : 
 
 Their head you may somewhere, outside the range 
 
 Of your antipathies, confront again. 
 
 (To Col. Cox.} And as for thee, thou scurvy renegade, 
 
 In peace resume thy way preserved to tell 
 
104 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Thy rosy children that the Indian, 
 
 Whom thou deridedst for his origin ; 
 
 His manners shutting out civility; 720 
 
 Devoid his nature of right-mindedness ; 
 
 His morals drinking worst effluvia 
 
 (Let me not clip th' empoisoned diatribe) 
 
 His settled wont to torture and to flay ; 
 
 When thou wert placed within his savage clutch, 
 
 Returned thee to their arms unvexed unharmed. 
 
 [Exeunt the hostile groups severally. 
 
 END OF ACT III. 
 
ACT IV. 
 
 SCENE 1. PLACE : The Mohawk Valley Forest 
 near Oriskany. 
 
 TIME : August, 1777. 
 Enter TflAYENDANEaEA and MAJOR BUTLER. 
 
 MAJOR BUTLER. Your military insight fertile as 
 Sagacious proved Thayendanegea, ought 
 To've led you, thoroughly to apprehend 
 The aim that underlay the policy 
 Of Germain ; when he willed this arduous 
 Investment of Fort Stanwix. Following 
 His thrusting Arnold (with whose agileness, 
 Tenacity whose martial fire it tasked 
 Him to compete) from his vice-royalty ; 
 Far-seeing Carleton, having by a show 10 
 
 Of masterly aggression bright reward [Point : 
 
 Of Valcour's bull-dog grapple snatched Crown 
 As cheering first-fruits of Burgoyne's campaign, 
 By seizure of Ticonderoga capped 
 Treat owed to the complaisance of St. Clair 
 (The sundered continuity thereby 
 
 105 
 
106 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Restored was to the chain of gateways placed 
 Along the road to Canada) as much 
 Facilitating expeditions, 'twas 
 
 An article of equal moment held, 20 
 
 The series of passes to command 
 (Stanwix, of course, stout hinge upon the door 
 Of the great Carry ing- Place) each loop control 
 Between Oswego and the Mohawk. Chief, 
 For this St. Leger bowls his scorching sleet ; 
 For this his surly mastiffs fulminate. [cied, would 
 THAYENDANEGEA. Such the reflections which, I fan- 
 Dictate the move upon the Hudson (meant 
 New England to cut off from her supports) 
 The programme's corner-stone our rulers' course. 
 Of motives which those rulers influenced, 31 
 
 In planning this ancillary attack, 
 Recounted one on which you laid much stress ; 
 As efficacy lending to conserve 
 Our country's prestige longing to possess 
 Key of the noble Mohawk. Butler, what 
 Huge sacrifices would we undergo 
 To save that beauteous inheritance 
 From fattening assets of the demagogues ! 
 Sheet which one's glance involving its whole track 
 A grandeur scatters, sight-enravishing : 41 
 
 Banks wooded gloriously ; replaced, anon, 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 107 
 
 By scarped headlands a surpassing, if 
 
 No plumb-line, masonry ; Anthony's Nose, 
 
 Impressing by its knobbed prominence, 
 
 With its saturnine profile elegant 
 
 Pelisse of greenery ; soft minister, 
 
 Which, now and then, with fructifying touch, 
 
 Cleaves opulent and quiet-nestling farms 
 
 Refreshes (bland encroacher) scented mead ; 50 
 
 Expanding here in reach pellucid there 
 
 Wooing meek sprays of dipping foliage. 
 
 Those falls entrancing, riveting the view, 
 
 Near its debouchure ; those in miniature 
 
 Their basin tiled with loose-tumbled rocks 
 
 Which sparkle near my sometime home ; its curves 
 
 Of outline exquisite ; the princely train 
 
 Of purling tributaries which their lord 
 
 Attend. Current that weds inconstancy ; 
 
 Loitering in sullen depths ; hurrying 60 
 
 In babbling shallows ; calm impetuous ; 
 
 Discards a frolicsome abandon, but 
 
 To doze, peace-folded, in unfretting bed. 
 
 MAJOR B. Most natural that keenness to uphold 
 Your title to such goodly legacy ! 
 
 THAY. Discussing our immediate, pressing part 
 In pending ordeal to here dismount 
 From Fancy's airy knolls it looks as if 
 
108 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 The hope which I expressed to Herkimer, 
 At Unadilla, that events some day 70 
 
 Might suffer me to bridge the chasmed space, 
 Destined to frown between our intercourse, 
 Would ear reach sooner than we then foresaw. 
 Turned the few leaves in volume of a month, 
 Since there transpired our so vivacious bout ; 
 And now we're posted here, I learn, to balk 
 The plan he has in hand, with Try on clowns, 
 To succor Gansevoort. 
 
 MAJOR BUTLER. Guess not astray. 
 That dauntless, as industrious volunteer 
 That wide-awake and capable vedette 80 
 
 Your sister Molly, news of his approach, 
 In face of dangers formidable, vast, 
 With timeliness conveying to our camp, 
 St. Leger ordered Glaus' Canadians 
 The handful spared of Hanau riflemen 
 My home-bred rangers, with your Indian 
 Auxiliaries, in haste to concentrate 
 At this advantaged spot to bar his way. 
 
 THAY. Unfolded, truly, an exceptional 
 Locality to plant an ambuscade : 90 
 
 I have surveyed the ground ; a deep ravine 
 Its contour semicircular from end 
 To end exhibiting a marshy bed ; 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 109 
 
 Capacity sufficient to enclose 
 
 Manifold files, though they should choose to march 
 
 In broad formation ; this tenebrous gorge 
 
 (By causeway threaded of rough corduroy) 
 
 Invades his army's normal avenue 
 
 Of transit. Overbrowing same, defined 
 
 Thick-garmented acclivities. We could 100 
 
 The progress of his troops impeded much 
 
 By dankness of the bog a violent, 
 
 An irrecoverable blow inflict 
 
 Upon them from each curtained eminence. 
 
 Fair though seem the conditions so revealed ; 
 
 While feasible to shut him in a trap ; 
 
 Being far from satisfied the force told off 
 
 Is strong enough to cope with Herkimer, 
 
 I'll send a scouting-party to find out 
 
 His numbers and the form his column takes. 110 
 
 Defer we should, in any case I would 
 
 Point out th' intended harassment until 
 
 The rear-guard's head is entering the cleft 
 
 The channel's blocked with sutlers' cumbrances. 
 
 (Sounds a whistle, and enter CAXASTOTA.) [mand ; 
 
 (To Can.) Cull out a dozen braves from your com- 
 And pierce the thicket's tangle towards the east. 
 Get at, as nearly as you can, without 
 Betrayal of your hiding-place, the strength 
 
1 10 THA YENDANEGE A. 
 
 And marching order of the enemy, 
 On learning this, with speed to us return. 120 
 
 [Exit OANASTOTA, and exeunt THAYENDANEGEA 
 
 and MAJOR BUTLER at opposite sides of 
 
 the stage. 
 
 OANASTOTA having completed his reconnaisance, and 
 reported the relief-force as evidencing no marked 
 disparity, as compared tvith their own, the detachment, 
 in the position taken up, await the coming of the 
 Provincials', upon whom, as soon as they arrive, a 
 destructive assault is dealt by the combined media oj 
 musket and tomahawk. 
 
 SCENE 2. PLACE: The Mohawk Valley The 
 British Encampment before Fort Stanwix. 
 
 Enter THAYENDANEGEA and MAJOR BUTLER. 
 
 MAJOR BUTLER. By virtue of our ready stratagem, 
 It, Brant, has certainly been given us 
 (To your wise handling of our dusk allies 
 Such fortunate result is mainly due) 
 The heedless enemy to decimate 
 Beyond our uttermost imaginings : 
 Five hundred men is their computed loss 
 One-half of their militant following. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. Ill 
 
 THAYENDANEGEA. Yet we have been no trivial 
 
 sufferers. 
 
 Th' ensnared drove, after recovery 130 
 
 From the first wildering onslaught source, moreover, 
 'Mong other ills, of hurt most desperate 
 To Major Watts (our sorest casualty) 
 Picked off a shoal of fighting Senecas ; 
 Stroke which, I promise, will dissuade the rest 
 (Let Sanguerachta rate coax smoothly as 
 He may) from pressing forward to reduce 
 The fort. Counting, indeed, the booty grabbed 
 By Willett on his sally ; equipage 
 Sundry supplies of Johnson's corps, I'd say 140 
 The honors were divided evenly. [just 
 
 MAJOR B. I fear the tidings, chieftain, we have 
 Received from friendly rangers of the wood 
 For you serves dish e'en less acceptable : 
 Word that your sister, wending towards her home 
 But half-recruited from her onerous ride 
 Was waylaid by Oneida turncoats ; who 
 Her clothing stripped from her, her ornaments ; 
 Then chased her to the Onondagas' bounds. 
 
 THAY. When I'm no longer tied to service here, 
 But my own movements shall again direct, 151 
 
 That insult offered to Sir William's choice 
 Atrocious slur upon his memory ; 
 
1 12 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 That cheapening of the family dignity 
 The bravoes, trust me, Major, shall be made 
 To expiate by dole commensurate. 
 
 MAJOR BUTLER. A prisoner taken near the action's 
 By Claus's men, reports that Herkimer [close, 
 
 Exemplified true Spartan fortitude. 
 He, though he had been wounded cruelly 160 
 
 (His knee was shattered, and his charger slain, 
 At hottest season of the fusillade) 
 With saddle, at his wish, as staunchion leant 
 Against a tree ; and smoking with sangfroid 
 His German pipe, direction of his troops 
 Declined to intermit. 
 
 THAY. His courage may, with full 
 
 Propriety, as sponge serve to efface 
 The purposed wrong I sorrowed to indict 
 Him for at fir-crowned Unadilla when 
 We met. Time, Butler, odd revenges brings ; 1 70 
 My spleeny vilifier, Cox, was killed. 
 
 MAJOR BUTLER. In his case, too, must ill-will be 
 
 renounced. 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 113 
 
 SCENE 3. PLACE : Stillwater near Saratoga. 
 Encampment of the Indians. 
 
 A number of warriors are seen dragging violently, and 
 subjecting to general mal- treatment, CAPTAIN JOHN 
 McKiNSTRY, made prisoner by them as a result of 
 the engagement. 
 
 Enter THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 THAYENDANEGEA (addressing the captive). 
 Dear friend, my soul is rent to find you here 
 Encompassed by so grievous danger ; made 
 Torment's enlivening sport selected as 
 The helpless butt for nauseous gibes ; become 
 The shrinking victim of indignity. 
 
 CAPT. McKiNSTRY. Your braves are unappeasably, 
 
 I fear, 
 
 Enraged with me because my closed platoons 
 When menaced by the riving tomahawk 180 
 
 Discharged their fire so tellingly, that they 
 Dug cruel furrows in their rushing ranks. 
 
 THAY. (addressing the captors). 
 Your prey, I charge you, warriors, to leave 
 Unharmed ; you shall I amply compensate. 
 
 To CAPT. McKiNSTRY. 
 Do not despair ; you from the coils yet shall 
 
114 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 I liberate which close entangle you. 
 
 One of the captors. 
 
 We itch to build the sacrificial pyre ; 
 And though Thayendanegea loud entreat, 
 We shall no longer than first sunset wait 189 
 
 His locks to shear with our primed scalping-knives. 
 
 [Exit TlIAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 (Left to themselves, the Indians, forming a ring 
 about McKiNSTRY, institute a death-dance ; the harrow- 
 ing effect of which for the prisoner is much enhanced by 
 tJieir indulgence in a succession of yells and gesticula- 
 tions.) 
 
 JKe-enter THAYENDANEGEA. 
 Heed, warriors, my pleading utterance : 
 An ox which I and Ackland's officers 
 Have ta'en unusual trouble to provide, 
 Catching the glimmer of your camp-fires, treads 
 Securely tethered ; savory barbecue 
 From its broiled flesh for you I prophesy. 
 Render to me your captive in exchange 
 Therefor ; and on the hideless carcase glut 
 A less revolting, saner appetite. 
 
 The warriors readily assent to the proposition; 
 and the transfer takes place with mutual satisfaction. 
 
 [Exeunt omnes. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 115 
 
 SCENE 4. PLACE: The Mohawk Valley Residence 
 
 of Rudolph Shoemaker, a quondam King's Justice 
 
 of the Peace, in the German Flats. 
 
 A collection of Monarchists encircle LIEUTENANT 
 WALTER BUTLER ; who, at the moment, is making known, 
 in animated tones, and with forcible gesture, the con- 
 tents of an open letter (which he still holds in his hand) 
 from three of the Royalists commanding before Fort 
 Stanwix SIR JOHN JOHNSON, COLONEL DANIEL CLAUS, and 
 MAJOR JOHN BUTLER to the inhabitants of the Valley at 
 large. HON. YOST SCHUYLER is stationed near him, while 
 two dozen or more soldiers their arms laid aside are 
 lounging about the various corners of the apartment. The 
 speaker has not finished his reading of the letter, when 
 a detachment of the guard at Fort Dayton, under COLONEL 
 WESTON, burst upon the company ; and make prisoners of 
 BUTLER and .SCHUYLER. The rest of the party, including 
 the contingent from Fort Stanwix, effect a disordered 
 exodus from the room. 
 
116 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 SCENE 5. PLACE: The Mohawk Valley Head- 
 quarters of MAJOR-GENERAL ARNOLD, 
 German Flats. 
 
 Sittings of a Court-Martial composed of MAJOR-GENERAL 
 ARNOLD, and three inferior officers of the Conti- 
 nental array. 
 
 Enter from opposite sides COLONEL MARINUS WILLETT 
 
 (Judge- Advocate) and LIEUT. WALTER BUTLER 
 
 and HON YOST SCHUYLER, the two last- 
 
 namd under escort as prisoners of war. 
 
 COLONEL WILLETT (addressing the Court). 
 To face inquiry into scourging know 200 
 
 For their misdeed, I, seigniors, cite impeach 
 Before your worshipful tribunal two 
 Obnoxious King's-men ; the more dangerous 
 Being Walter Butler, he an officer 
 In " Butler's Rangers " that feud-loving corps 
 Led by his famous father ; his ally 
 (Reported to have been the arch-knave's guide) 
 A certain Hon Yost Schuyler. With a batch 
 Of graceless privies, they, the captured pair, 
 Communion held in secret at the house 210 
 
 Of Shoemaker ; who, scum unsavory, 
 Was early listed in His Majesty's 
 Commission of the Peace. Of this advised, 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. il7 
 
 Weston, swift-mustering quota of the guard, 
 Their stance did make bold to interrupt. 
 At moment of their advent, Butler stood, 
 Spicing with noisy speech a message, which 
 He brought, post-haste, from that triumvirate 
 Of Royalists before Fort Stanwix his 
 (The prisoner's) father, Daniel Glaus, Johnson 220 
 The baronet. The screed they plundered. It- 
 Vying with scorpion's virulence adjured 
 The district to empower an embassage, 
 To be composed of individuals 
 Of note, to urge upon the garrison 
 The folly of resistance ; stating fear 
 That should they not assent their Indians, 
 Exasperate inflamed by heavy loss 
 Encountered in that clash, when Greek met Greek 
 At red Oriskany, could by no tool 230 
 
 Of human handling no persuasion be 
 Withheld from venting their resentful wrath, 
 By dealing wholesale slaughter to the Vale. 
 Here 'tis that masterpiece of devilry. 
 
 "CAMP BEFORE FORT STANWIX, 
 
 "August 13, 1777. 
 " To the inhabitants of Tryon County: 
 
 " Notwithstanding the many and great injuries we have 
 received in person and property at your hands ; and, being 
 
118 THAY ENDANEGEA. 
 
 at the head of victorious troops, we most ardently wish 
 to have peace restored to this once happy country ; to 
 obtain which we are willing and desirous, upon a proper 
 submission on your parts, to bury in oblivion all that is 
 past ; and hope that you are, or will be, convinced in the 
 end that we were your friends and good advisers, and not 
 such wicked, designing men as those who led you into 
 error and almost total ruin. You have, no doubt, great 
 eason to dread the resentment of the Indians, on account 
 of the loss they sustained in the late action, and the 
 mulish obstinacy of your troops in this garrison, who 
 have no resources but in themselves ; for which reasons 
 the Indians declare that, if they do not surrender the 
 garrison without further opposition, they will put every 
 soul to death not only the garrison, but the whole 
 country, without any regard to age, sex, or friends for 
 which reason it is become your indispensable duty, as 
 you must answer the consequences, to send a deputation 
 of your principal people, to oblige them immediately to 
 what, in a very little time, they must be forced the 
 surrender of the garrison ; in which case we will engage, 
 on the faith of Christians, to protect you from the 
 violence of the Indians. 
 
 Surrounded as you are by victorious armies, one-half 
 (if not the greater part) of the inhabitants friends to Gov- 
 ernment, without any resource, surely you cannot hesitate 
 a moment to accept the terms proposed to you by friends 
 and well-wishers to the country. 
 
 " JOHN JOHNSON, \ 
 
 "D. W. GLAUS, ^Superintendents." 
 
 ' l JOHN BUTLER, ) 
 
 COLONEL WILLETT hands the communication to 
 ARNOLD ; who reads it aloud to the other members of 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 119 
 
 the Court. Evidence being afterwards given, by those 
 who assisted in securing the prisoners, to establish 
 the Judge- Advocate's opening statement, ARNOLD ad- 
 dresses his colleagues. 
 
 ARNOLD. Presentment hearing of the witnesses, 
 Observe you, colleagues, faintest scintilla 
 Of evidence, which could extenuate 
 This worm's depravity ; mark anything 
 Which should the Court induce to moderate 
 Its punishment. (The other members of the Court, 
 
 having exchanged a few words with each other, 
 
 now answer ARNOLD.) 
 
 In the award to him 240 
 
 Of recompense of death we all concur. 
 
 GENERAL ARNOLD (addressing Butler). 
 Night-faring trespasser upon our realm 
 Dark emissary of the Brunswickites ; 
 Moving within our lines, a suit to speed 
 That rules out the exemptions of a truce, 
 Have you, Lieutenant Butler, aught to urge 
 Against your sentence, in conformity 
 With military canons, as a spy ? 
 
 LIEUT. BUTLER. I this submission with my 
 That I was busied with legitimate [judges leave : 
 Problem of statecraft; acted simply as 251 
 
120 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 The honest, if insistent, vehicle 
 For overtures to aid the Monarchy. 
 
 GEN. ARNOLD. Plea less effective than ingenious. 
 This dread irruption of the savages ; 
 Promised in case the so degrading cry 
 Of your superiors 7 manifesto should 
 Be not acceded to should pass unheard ; 
 Speaks through that baying of malevolence 
 The temper of the sober diplomat ? 260 
 
 Reserved alone for soulless reprobate 
 Such frank brutality to champion. 
 
 LIEUT. B. Twas sought through the address to 
 For profit of the Valley's residents, [intimate, 
 
 The feeling of the injured signers that, 
 In rightful notion of a crisis hard, 
 Yoked was their interest with their loyalty. 
 
 GEN. ARNOLD. Your singular defence we do pro- 
 Untenable. Our judgment is that you [nounce 
 Have fully merited, and must endure 270 
 The extreme penalty. 
 
 (To the prisoner's escort] The prisoner, guards, 
 Remove. [worthiness 
 
 (To the Judge- Advocate) Respecting the blame- 
 Of Schuyler need we to deliberate. 
 
 (At this point an urgent knocking is heard at the 
 outer door ; and an orderly is despatched to ascertain 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 121 
 
 its cause. Returning, lie makes this announcement 
 to the Court.) 
 
 ORDERLY. The mother of the prisoner Schuyler 
 
 (waits 
 
 With her below his brother Nicholas) 
 Craves transient audience. 
 
 GEN. ARNOLD. Usher her up. 
 
 (ELIZABETH SCHUYLER, being admitted to tlie room, 
 casts herself, weeping, at ARNOLD'S feet.) 
 
 ELIZ. SCHUYLER. Illustrious Arnold, giant of re- 
 Foremost proficient in the soldier's art [source 
 The urgings answer of a mother's plaint ; 
 Convict not of un worth a mother's tears ; 280 
 
 Anoint do thou with curing liniment 
 The aching sores with pity's touch extract 
 The lance deep-bedded in a mother's breast. 
 Badge-wearer, thou, of intrepidity ! 
 Bends at your feet a grief-torn suppliant ; 
 Pass not the fearsome edict visit not 
 The crushing doom upon my son, which doth 
 Involve the chiefer culprit. 
 
 GEN. ARNOLD. Dame, what ground 
 
 For clemency right to the boon which you 
 In anguished accents, with dejectedness 290 
 
 Of soul beseech, can you allege ? 
 
122 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 ELIZ. SCHUYLER. The lad 
 
 (A mental weakling from his infancy) 
 Has not the wit the fledged intelligence 
 Thus to conspire to work you prejudice. 
 
 COL. WILLETT. I ask the Court t'indulge me if a 
 I interject. This seeming simpleton [word 
 
 Claims veneration from the redmen as 
 A seer conceived's a person half-divine. 
 Could his imperious logic be applied 
 To plastic minds of Brant's fire-eating horde 300 
 Beleaguering Stanwix, by imparting some 
 Miinchausen fable rich-embroidered tale 
 Of an overwhelming force which you conduct 
 Against their hive ; used to successfully 
 Blind their perceptions, in some losing maze 
 Wove of misleading speech ; as doth the sense 
 Of timorous gazelle the falcon cloud, 
 Ere it is stalked, we would, I warrant, make 
 Wise cession of the franchise of his life. 
 
 GEN. ARNOLD (addressing Hon Yost Schuyler). 
 Schuyler, I'm told the aboriginal 310 
 
 Ascribes to you the wizard's prescience ; 
 Endows you with his occult powers his weird, 
 Unfleshly furniture. Repair you, then, 
 With expedition to the British lines : 
 Instil into their swart irregulars, 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 123 
 
 By any form of conjuration, or 
 
 Of charmful spell which you can invocate 
 
 (Whether you wave enchanter's wand, or should 
 
 Exert the necromancer's enginery, 
 
 We rate a thing of minor consequence) . 320 
 
 The hardy fiction that I them pursue, 
 
 With winged phalanx, of resistless strength ; 
 
 Pierce their credulity with any shaft 
 
 Stowed in your prophet's quiver. Dress this bait ; 
 
 And we'll absolve your scandalous offence. 
 
 Hox. YOST SCHUYLER. I do accept the terms; 
 
 and shall put forth 
 My utmost efforts to attain the end 
 Desired. [add 
 
 GEN. ARNOLD. A shrewd Oneida will a coat to 
 Of varnish to the frame be sent with you. 
 We must, howe'er, exact security 330 
 
 That you the substance of the contract will 
 Perform. 
 
 MA.RY S. A willing hostage for him, General, 
 Myself I tender. 
 
 GEN. ARNOLD. Such arrangement we 
 Are indisposed to sanction ; we require 
 One over whom our guards can exercise 
 A stricter oversight than we, without 
 Charge of oppression, could with you adopt. 
 
124 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 NICH. S. Take me, I beg you, as her substitute. 
 
 GEN. ARNOLD. That stipulation's more agreeable. 
 
 NICH. S. (to Arnold.) Feeling convinced my brother 
 The ticklish business he here undertakes ; [will fulfil 
 Till he successful in the test shall have 342 
 
 Achieved my ransom, and his credit saved, 
 Guard-room constraint shall lightly discompose 
 Its gloom its solitude no whit appal. 
 
 GEN. ARNOLD. Detain him, guards, in grated cell 
 The outcome of his mission shall be learnt. [until 
 
 [Exeunt omnes. 
 
 SCENE 5. PLACE: Bivouac of the Six-Nations 
 before Fort Stanivix. 
 
 A number of warriors are participating in a pow-wow. 
 One of them, who has noticed HON YOST SCHUYLER 
 approaching, addresses him. 
 
 INDIAN BRAVE. Why hast our wigwams, Schuyler, 
 
 sought thou feat 
 
 Down-thrower of the future's barriers ; 
 Intruder daring on her secrecy ? 350 
 
 HON YOST SCHUYLER. Hearken, dull votaries of 
 Power unresponsive, puny arbiter ; [Manitou 
 
 Peoplers of Fetishism's swales unsunned, 
 Can naught pierce your obtuseness lift the film ? 
 Leaning upon impotent Deities, 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 125 
 
 In vain you hunger for their avatar : 
 
 Confiders in a disciplineless Chance ; 
 
 Deign ye to reckon with realities. 
 
 In number as the pebbles strewn upon 
 
 Oneida's shingly beach, or as th' uncombed, 360 
 
 Dun-crested giants of these hoary woods, 
 
 The hosts of Arnold dog you. Maybe, you 
 
 Would still insist on testimony, which 
 
 Should eye-arresting be, and palpable 1 
 
 Is't not supplied ? Examine well ray coat 
 
 Gnawed as it is by shot ; frank souvenirs 
 
 Which emanate from vaward skirmishers ; 
 
 Escape unmaimed from whose so searching hail 
 
 Would nothing short seem of miraculous. 
 
 His flaming sword advanced ; if, murmurers, you 
 
 (Depressed as is your passions' mercury, 371 
 
 To notch more low must slide the register) 
 
 Would your undoing by due forethought stave 
 
 If you would ruin irretrievable 
 
 Avoid no loophole's visible, except 
 
 To Geneseo a confused stampede. 
 
 [Exit HON YOST SCHUYLER. 
 
 The Indians, upon this announcement being made, 
 break up their conference ; and, dispersing in different 
 directions, circulate the disastrous news throughout 
 the camp. 
 
126 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 SCENE 6. PLACE: Cherry Valley Residence of 
 Robert Wells ; Headquarters of COLONEL ALDEN. 
 
 TIME : November, 1778. 
 Enter COL. ALDEN and SUSAN CAMPBELL. 
 
 SUSAN CAMPBELL. The women, Colonel, of our 
 
 district have 
 
 Robed me with credence of a delegate, 
 To drill into your sceptic intellect 
 What seems to them most bodeful prospect this, 
 That Walter Butler, chafing under sting 381 
 
 Of his imprisonment at Albany 
 (Just pain to which he was remitted, as 
 Commuted sentence knelled by Arnold, which 
 His life pronounced forfeit as a spy ; 
 And all too soon abridged by his escape) 
 With host descends of blood-crazed savages 
 Upon our homesteads. Wherefore, they request 
 Beseech you to afford them liberty 
 To store the costlier of their portable 390 
 
 Household effects within the walls secure 
 The strengthful hedge behind of palisades 
 Which screen our guardians. I, furthermore, 
 Disburden wish that you will not forbid 
 Their resting in that haven over-night. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 127 
 
 COL. ALDEN. I hold the danger quite chimerical. 
 It cannot be that parties so remote 
 As Stanwix ('twas from there the ruffling news 
 Has come) should be possessed of definite 
 Idea of the purpose of his move. 400 
 
 The situation certainly does not 
 Necessitate the transfer of your goods ; 
 Nor yet the sheltering lodgment which you ask. 
 The fort, besides, could not accommodate 
 All comers ; and, in such a matter, I 
 Would have to banish partiality. 
 Content you : I have set a careful watch ; 
 Cordoned the neighborhood with lynx-eyed scouts. 
 This should suffice to dissipate alarm. 409 
 
 SUSAN CAMPBELL. Grant that a false security do 
 Yourself and others in th' abysm hurl ! [not 
 
 [Exit SCSAN CAMPBELL. 
 
 COL. ALDEN. Have I been hasty in discrediting 
 These glum reports ? Yet why should Butler pick 
 Upon our settlement to eke his spite ? 
 Nevertheless, he might so act because 
 We are the thickest-peopled, most exposed 
 The fairest hamlet by Otsego's strand. 
 
 (Notices a horse and rider approaching.) 
 Why spurs this horseman hither in such haste ? 
 A look it has of evil augury. 419 
 
128 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 (Enter DAVID H AMBLE, a countryman.} 
 DAVID HAMBLE. Fly, Colonel, and acquaint the 
 Batter the redskins at your very gates. [garrison ! 
 Though not before receiving wound acute, 
 I slipped the demons scarce two miles from hence ; 
 The sweat diffused about my horse's flanks 
 His heaving chest, and wide-distended eye 
 Are witnesses of the rapidity 
 
 With which th' unwelcome tidings have been borne. 
 ; Tis hinted that the sentinels, assigned 
 The region whence the rout emerged to scan 
 Lax estimate forming of their employ 430 
 
 Were captured by them, sleeping at their post. 
 
 [Exit HAMBLE. 
 
 COL. ALDEN, on receiving this intelligence, starts at 
 once for the fort ; but, being overtaken by the advance 
 guard of the Indians, is ruthlessly scalped. 
 
 SCENE 7. PLACE : The same Apartment in a 
 farm-house. 
 
 The matron of the house, ALICE LINDESAY, is found 
 employed in domestic work ; a couple of children 
 observed playing about her. 
 
 Enter THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 THAYENDANEGEA. Unrecking, senseless woman, 
 stopp'st within 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 129 
 
 This flimsy sanctuary, calm, unawed ; 
 In doom- vowed dwelling, unprotected, dost 
 Concern thyself with stale domestic cares, 
 While friends relations are being massacred ? 
 
 ALICE LIXDESAY. Stands one in jeopardy that 
 owns the King? 
 
 THAT. That plea I fear 's of small avail to-day 
 Prefers but fragile reed on which to lean. 
 I tried to warn so save from butchery 440 
 
 The Wellses ; love-knit, blameless circle theirs, 
 To buy whose safety I'd have forfeited 
 My life. Inimical, alas, the fates ! 
 Aiming the spoilers to anticipate, 
 I chose a nearer path ; (tale pitiful !) 
 The ropy mire oppressing the nude fields 
 'Gainst passage steely bent on laying an 
 Embargo clasped my plunging limbs, with grip 
 Of ooze-fouled tentacles. This so prolonged 
 My journey as to make it vain ; else had 450 
 
 I carried been upon electric wing, 
 To obviate their thrilling agonies ; 
 Deliver saints from grisly martyrdom. 
 Slain, too, the helpmeet of your minister ; 
 And all the number of poor Mitchell's brood. 
 
 ALICE LINDESAY. Doth Joseph Brant not lead the 
 Where issue casts from dies of adamant, [Indians ; 
 
130 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Apostle, he, of gracious clemency ; 
 
 Foe chivalrous, who albe sorely clogged, 
 
 In brave endeavors to be merciful, 460 
 
 By bristling stubble dark propensities 
 
 Of underlings protrude upon his path 
 
 Oft lifting arm humane, the murderous blow 
 
 Deflects ? Have you not heard how he did thrice, 
 
 With grand outgoing of benignity, 
 
 In awninged wilds keep watch o'er woe-racked knots 
 
 Of women refugees, to hinder blasts 
 
 Of harm ? Were he but here, I might dismiss 
 
 All fear. 
 
 THAT. Tis Joseph Brant who speaks. 470 
 
 ALICE LINDESAY. The Heavens 
 
 Be praised ! 
 
 THAY. I would not damp your hopes ; but I 
 
 Enjoy, pressed hare, subordinate command 
 
 Joining with Captain Butler in his raid 
 
 Reluctantly ; consented only, when, 
 
 By reasoning gainsayless, I grew convinced 
 
 That my mere presence 'mong my followers 
 
 Would tend to keep them from uncurbed excess. 
 
 While conscious of wide limit to my power ; 
 
 Of movements handicapped of impulses 480 
 
 Repressed do will I, sister, all I can 
 
 To spare you outrage ; injury avert 
 
 From lambs about you tender, delicate. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA, 131 
 
 Nor is there time to lose ; for I descry 
 A file hard by of tigerish Senecas, 
 Eager to try the temper of their claws. 
 
 (THAYENDANEGEA here sounds a keen whistle, which 
 is responded to by a number of Moliawks.) 
 
 (To one of the braves.) 
 
 Here, paint at once, in clear-drawn characters, 
 My totem's sign upon these innocents. 
 
 (The warrior, as commanded, traces, one after another, 
 a rough representation of a wolf on the fore- 
 heads of the woman and Jier children.) 
 
 (To ALICE LINDESAY.) 
 Arrange yourself, without delay, in bed ; 
 And when the vultures shall invade the room, 490 
 Symptoms of illness aptly simulate. 
 Perceiving this ; together with my mark 
 Interpreting its import, as of yore 
 Was done with smear upon the lintel they 
 Will leave, I know, without molesting you. 
 
 [Exit THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 The Senecas here break into the chamber, with every 
 manifestation of hatred and fury ; but, noticing the 
 apparently suffering woman, and their War-captain's 
 device imprinted upon her and the children, refrain 
 from offering them violence, and leave the house. 
 
 END OF ACT IV. 
 
ACT V. 
 
 SCENE 1. PLACE: Battle-field of the Minisink. 
 TIME : July, 1779. 
 
 Into the presence of THAYENDANEGEA is roughly haled, 
 by half a dozen warriors, MAJOR WOOD, freshly 
 captured by them in the fight. 
 
 MAJOR WOOD (addressing Thayendanegea). 
 Illustrious and puissant chieftain, thou, 
 Who striven hast to minish aim'st to check 
 Th' ensanguined flood, which scarce doth intermit 
 To drench and stain the bosom of this once 
 Bright-featured, smiling, fruitful ; but now soiled, 
 Deflowered now scourged and lacerated land ; 
 Zealous hast wrought, through exercise of arts 
 Of dexterous and winning suasion, or 
 By force of just, yet temperate, reproof, 
 To free the frozen rills which manacle confine 10 
 Each wholesome and each righteous impulse ; pierce 
 The sealed pores that exit long have blocked 
 For every charitable feeling, of men's hearts ; [kindly 
 (Grace-founts dried up good dictates gagged 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 133 
 
 Sensation indurated and benumbed) 
 
 The savor of whose broad humanity 
 
 Helps cleanse the murk from horror absolute 
 
 Redeems th' outrageous frenzy of the times ; 
 
 The chronicle of whose so ruthful deeds, 
 
 Throwing bright beam the stage across of War's 20 
 
 Remorseless havoc o'er the lurid track 
 
 Of Ruin's scathing tempest softens, dulls 
 
 The blenching vision ever being preferred 
 
 Painting for us in horrid surfeit limned 
 
 The writhing heap which sinks beneath the heel 
 
 Of deathful carnage those disfigured forms, 
 
 Which daily, hourly, fill the needy maw 
 
 Of that foul gourmand raise, benignant foe, 
 
 Thy saving arm, and snatch me from these ghouls ! 
 
 THAT. System I might be willing to adopt, 30 
 Which interfere should with my warriors' 
 Control of prizes gained by them in war 
 (Thought of as their distinctive perquisite) 
 Would breach their spirit of obedience ; 
 Favor the sapping the authority 
 Essential found to their efficiency : 
 Breeding in them a fractious sullenness, 
 Purvey apt tinder for a mutiny. [ment 
 
 MAJOR WOOD. Chief, mightier, more moving argu- 
 Should trite entreaty serve not to awake 40 
 
134 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Compassion higher, holier appeal 
 
 Lags in reserve. Behold the token's passed ; 
 
 (Frames the Master- Mason's grand hailing-signal oj 
 distress) 
 
 That excerpt from a magic alphabet ; 
 
 Which, wheresoever radiates the strength 
 
 Of our august, protecting brotherhood ; 
 
 Extends the virtue of the talisman 
 
 The blessing travels of the cordial ; 
 
 When flashed it is by suitor one forlorn, 
 
 Necessitous ; anchored its spreading pale 
 
 Within, plenteous indulgence, comfort grace 50 
 
 For him assures ; succor, relief, if begged, 
 
 Procures, instant unquestioning from his 
 
 More prosperous fellow. 
 
 THAY. Open not to me 
 
 That potent prayer to brush aside ; your true- 
 Aimed shot brings down the hunted game ; attests 
 That chance- loosed barb an errless archery. 
 
 (To the captors.) Braves, 'tis my will your captive 
 
 be released ! 
 
 [Exeunt omnes. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 135 
 
 SCENE 2. PLACE : Near Harper -afield, on the east 
 branch of the Susquehanna. 
 
 TIME: April, 1780. 
 
 A Provincial scouting-party of fourteen persons, under 
 the leadership of LIEUTENANT ALEXANDER HARPER, 
 found established in the woods, occupied with 
 sugar-making. 
 
 LIEUT. HARPER (to the rank and fie of the party). 
 Men, our commission may be brief rehearsed : 
 The commandant of the Schoharie Forts 
 Bluff Colonel Vrooman has our squad detailed, 60 
 T ascend to sources of the Delaware ; 
 With bold intent to learn the projects watch 
 The panther movements of the savages. 
 While this prime object of our errand, we 
 Have been enjoined, by way of incident, 
 (So winning prized addition to his stores) 
 To lose no fitting opportunity 
 The maple's toothsome produce to extort : 
 With weather of such quality as tends 
 To crown with profit our experiments 70 
 
 The genial sun a forcing-pump by day, 
 A kind usurper's reign the night's crisp frosts 
 Pursuit we prosecute with heartiness. 
 
136 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Still would I safer feel, if certified 
 
 (In days of soon-dispelled serenity, 
 
 We, sturdy woodsmen, sportive school-mates were) 
 
 Of the unloved marauder's whereabouts. 
 
 The man would seem to be ubiquitous ; 
 
 In his sporadic visitations, will 
 
 Smite Middleburgh pounce on the " Butternuts ;" 
 
 Burst out at Springfield startle Cobuskill. 81 
 
 Recurs a spicy legend of these parts, 
 
 Which him identifies with lively play 
 
 Upon his name. Captain McKean his friend 
 
 Before the troubles summoned to repel 
 
 A foray ; finding that the chief had just 
 
 Removed from quarter, where he had designed 
 
 To test his mettle, to a point not far 
 
 Away ; but that he purposed to return 
 
 At night, prepared a high-flown challenge ; which 
 
 He straight exposed upon an Indian trail ; 91 
 
 Scrawling thereon to rub his foeman up 
 
 That he had " oft proclaimed himself a man ; 
 
 But if he'd deign the tree -pinned gage t' accept, 
 
 To level would he of a Brant-goose sink." 
 
 Mention of Colonel Vrooman brings to mind, 
 
 Brant's treatment of a namesake ; which bears out 
 
 The judgment bruited of his lenity ; 
 
 While with the other showing ludicrous 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 137 
 
 Compliance with behest (expedient hatched 100 
 
 To yield him freedom) which, 'twas hoped, 
 He suiting to his need would contravene. 
 He had been captured by the sachem's braves ; 
 And motioned to a patch of woodland, at 
 Short distance from their wigwams, to collect 
 Some bark the dullard, gibbeting his chance, 
 Raced back with the superfluous article. 
 
 (At this point y THAYENDANEGEA, at the head of forty 
 Indians and ten whites, dashes into the centre of the 
 group ; two of whom the band despatch before the chief 
 can interfere. THAYENDANEGEA himself, feigning 
 intense ferocity, rushes upon HARPER, with uplifted 
 tomahawk.) 
 
 THAY. Harper, while filled with genuine regret 
 At our rencounter ; my poised axe must cleave 
 Your skull rip ope your flesh unless you shall 
 Divulge the number of the soldiery 111 
 
 (If so be any regulars contain) 
 At present manning the Schoharie Forts. 
 I caution you 'gainst practising deceit ; 
 For whatsoever estimate you may 
 Conclude to give, I can depute a scout 
 Its truth to verify. Leisure you will 
 Enjoy, in such event, to speculate 
 
138 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Upon the doom you will incur, should yours 
 
 Agree not closely with my messenger's; 120 
 
 Should wear the stencil-print of falsity. 
 
 LIEUT. HARPER. Chief, fearing that you might be 
 About our skirts ; impatient to expend [hovering 
 Your desolating vigor on our hearths 
 Re-light your charring furnace on our plains 
 We were allowed three hundred men, with which 
 T' effectually frustrate your pillagings. 
 
 THAY. In dealing with my operations, you 
 No overplus betray of modesty ; 
 However, I suppose I must accept 130 
 
 That plain averment : still, it may not glad 
 Your ears to learn that, since my enterprise 
 Abortive proves, our slackened steps diverge 
 Toward the west their goal Niagara : 
 A tramp at no time fraught with blissfulness ; 
 Intolerable for hampered prisoners. 
 
 The prisoners now (with the exception of Harper) 
 whose rank exempts him from the humiliation with 
 heavy packs strapped upon their backs commence their 
 dolorous and weary trudge to Fort Niagara. 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 139 
 
 SCENE 3. PLACE : The vicinity of Tioga Point- 
 near the confluence of tlie Susqnehanna and the 
 Chemung. 
 
 A company of ten savages a portion of THAYENDA- 
 NEGEA'S predatory band having in custody five white 
 prisoners, three men and two children collected around 
 their camp-fire in the woods. Two forked stakes are 
 seen secured in the earth, one on each side of the fire ; 
 and placed between them (resting on the forks) two 
 poles, against which the warriors' rifles are leaning. 
 These are occupied in roasting the flesh for their evening 
 meal ; when one of them the operation completed 
 lays his knife upon the ground, near the feet of VAN 
 CAMPEN, one of the prisoners (the arms of all of whom 
 had been firmly pinioned) who, observing the act, covers 
 it at once with his foot, without the movement being 
 detected by any of the Indians. A short time only 
 elapses before the Indians address themselves to sleep ; 
 five of them disposed on either side of the fire their 
 heads under the poles, and the rifle of each in position to 
 be grasped upon the instant. VAN CAMPEN now sits up ; 
 and, peering out, endeavors to ascertain if all are asleep ; a 
 truth of which he becomes assured by the snoring of the 
 savages. Having with his foot drawn the knife within 
 reach of his shackled hand ; he rising cautiously 
 rouses his companions, PENCE and PIKE. PENCE 
 promptly cuts the bands girding VAN CAMPEN ; who, 
 
140 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 in turn, sunders those of his comrades. They then remove 
 all the rifles to a tree, at a short distance from the fire, 
 (depriving their captors, at the same time, of their toma- 
 hawks) both acts being performed without awaking any 
 of them. VAN CAMPEN, with a tomahawk, quickly dashes 
 out the brains of one of the Indians on the right side of 
 the fire ; but PIKE, who had been expected to accom- 
 plish the destruction of another in the line, draws back 
 on his intended victim's venting an alarming " ugh ;" and 
 extending his arm, as though to seize his rifle. VAN 
 CAMPEN, however, seeing him stir, with lightning rapidity 
 drives his tomahawk through the Indian's head ; a 
 performance he repeats with the remaining savages 
 on his side of the fire. PENCE, at this juncture, fires the 
 second of the three rifles of which he had possessed him- 
 self (the first essay had resulted in a flash of the pan) the 
 charge passing through the heads of four of the Indians 
 arranged on PENCE'S side of the fire. The fifth, CANAS- 
 TOTA, aroused by the ring of the rifle, bounds to his 
 feet, and rushes towards the spot where the fire-arms 
 had been stacked over-night. VAN CAMPEN darts be- 
 tween him and the tree ; and CANASTOTA turns in flight. 
 VAN CAMPEN, pursuing him, splits his shoulder with 
 his tomahawk ; CANASTOTA, here grasping his adver- 
 sary, they both fall to the ground, VAN CAMPEN under- 
 neath. They strain together with unrelaxed nerve, each 
 writhing to break free. VAN CAMPEN, lying under 
 CANASTOTA'S maimed shoulder, is almost suffocated by 
 the blood which streams from the latter's wound. The 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 141 
 
 tomahawk at this point dropping from him, he stretches his 
 hand around CANASTOTA'S body to reach his knife ; but the 
 Indian's belt having become twisted round his waist when 
 they first fell, he finds it to be beyond his grasp. At 
 length, springing to their feet, they wrench themselves 
 apart, VAN CAMPEN seizes the tomahawk ; but CANASTOTA, 
 taking to flight, passes beyond range. 
 
 SCENE 4. PLACE : Tioga Point. 
 
 THAYENDANEGEA and his detachment in camp. 
 
 Enter CANASTOTA. 
 
 THAYENDANEGEA. Corn's t, Canastota, to the 
 Untended by a single warrior 1 [rendezvous, 
 
 CANASTOTA. All, save myself, redoubted chief, 
 By you sent forth to rake for spoil, became [of those, 
 The victims of a sickening tragedy. 141 
 
 Beyond the waters of the Delaware 
 In breeze-swept highlands of the Minisink 
 We took five prisoners convoy numbering 
 Three men, two children. At the outset, we 
 Were careful to abstract such articles 
 From them as might be used to our despite ; 
 Or, peradventure, simplify escape : 
 Nor did neglect to fetter them at night, 
 
142 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 One of our party must, unthinkingly, 150 
 
 Have dropped his knife, when roasted was his meat ; 
 Forgetting stupidly to repossess 
 Himself of it thereafter : some alert 
 Intelligence among the captives, then 
 Watching its chance the weapon, probably, 
 Secured, when we our frames surrendered 
 (The forest-floor for snow-hemmed palliasse) 
 Leased was our consciousness to earned repose : 
 With it effecting severance of our bonds. 
 For I was shook from slumber's vise-like hold 160 
 By piercing crack of rifle (they had reft 
 Us of our lethal wares) whose deft discharge 
 Their figures in alignment luckless ranged 
 Four warriors sped ; gashes from tomahawk 
 Successively five others' pulses stilled ; 
 Leaving these thews alone to withstand Death ; 
 Leaving these veins alone by him unchilled : 
 From whose all-mangling talons I myself, 
 After a surging conflict, disengaged. 
 
 (Showing them nine pairs of moccasins.) 
 Gaze, clansmen, on these moccasins full eloquent 
 Mementos of companions you have lost ! 171 
 
 Warriors in concert. The pale-face captives tor- 
 ture mutilate ! [tune 
 CAN. You, fellow-braves, with warmth I impor- 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 143 
 
 With earnestness ; relinquish your resolve. 
 
 Be more fair-minded ; show yourselves to be 
 
 Dispassionate ; in this untoward affair 
 
 Act ye more noble honorable part. 
 
 Comrades ! unskeined my doleful narrative, 
 
 But to explain why you in me behold 
 
 Pathetic remnant of our stalwart band ; 180 
 
 Not to excite your feelings bellows plied 
 
 Not to inflame to murder. Chargeable 
 
 In no way upon these that holocaust ; 
 
 No baneful privity of will was theirs 
 
 In its iniquity : their hands in your 
 
 In my kinspeople's blood was not imbrued. 
 
 TIIAY. Deny not, warriors, his fair desert 
 To Mercy's advocate ; those lessoning lips 
 Judicious lore distil ; with Justice is 
 Their sentence consonant. Train they upon 190 
 Us Reason's batteries. The tapping guest 
 Admit. Dip, braves, in Pity's flowing well : 
 Stable Revenge. Let the thaw liquefy 
 The icicle ; do not, I you implore, 
 With wanton crime your consciences o'erload. 
 
 As a result of these appeals, the warriors renounce 
 their intention of avenging their comrades' deaths 
 upon the prisoners ; and both prisoners and captors 
 resume their march. 
 
144 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 SCENE S.Geneaeo. 
 
 Enter THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 THAY. Twice have the captives been from slaughter 
 Once (hard upon their taking) when I found [spared : 
 It such an uphill task to overrule 
 My warriors' protest that the maintenance 
 Of such a troop, with our reduced supply 200 
 
 Of food, would be unfairly onerous ; 
 Next, when extinction lit (in purlieus that 
 Where feasts the eye on Susquehanna's plumed 
 Sublimity) on Mohawk's hapless nine. 
 Were they preserved from peril so immense ; 
 Rescued with pain from pass so terrible : 
 Have they been helped, at hazard, twice to burst 
 Fate's circling trammels dodge the shadowing, 
 Stern Nemesis, which sought lewd cormorant 
 In guiltless tissues to infix her beak ; 210 
 
 Have they outlived that crowning misery 
 Compulsion laid upon them to subsist 
 For haggard days on putrid horse-flesh (dread 
 Privation we, too, shared) but to succumb 
 To spiteful buffets from the gauntlet-files,. 
 Still to be met, expectantly arrayed, 
 Between this station and Niagara 1 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 145 
 
 I have not judged it proper to confide 
 
 To Harpor soyaol of his niece Jane Moore's 
 
 Abduction from her Cherry Valley nest 220 
 
 (Rifling without my knowledge, privity) 
 
 How Captain Powell, vested with command 
 
 At Fort Niagara ; when she had been 
 
 Entrusted to the warden's custody, 
 
 After an ardent courtship, married her. 
 
 I'll send a runner forward to suggest 
 
 To Powell to arrange festivities 
 
 (Naming the Nine-Mile Landing on the Lake) 
 
 For both encampments of the Senecas, 
 
 Established in the Fort's vicinity. 230 
 
 The braves decoyed the prisoners should the test, 
 
 Dealt by the feebler Amazons, surmount. 
 
 (Sounds a signal^ in answer to which a Mohawk 
 brave appears.) 
 
 With this (handing him paper) apace make for 
 To Captain Powell's self deliver it. [Niagara ; 
 
146 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 SCENE 6. PLACE : Cleared ground adjoining Fort 
 Niagara. 
 
 A number of Indian women and boys found marshalled 
 in column, vis-a-vis, armed with various kinds of offensive 
 weapons. THAYENDANEGEA'S captives, at the highest 
 speed of which they are capable, dart through the gap, 
 so formed ; all, with the exception of one, who is struck 
 down by an unusually muscular blow from one of the 
 termagants, but recovers himself, and resumes his flight, 
 gaining the farther outlet of the defile in safety. 
 
 SCENE 7. PLACE : British America THAYENDA- 
 NEGEA'S home, at New Oswego, on the Grand River. 
 
 TIME: 1788. 
 Enter THAYENDANEGEA and COLONEL JOHN BUTLER. 
 
 THAYENDANEGEA. The clamor, Colonel, that the 
 
 Miamis, 
 
 The Wyandots and tribes with them affined 
 Have vented steadily, persistently ; 
 Since the conclusion of the treaty which 
 Acknowledged th 5 independence of the States ; 
 Caused by intrusion of the frontiersmen 240 
 
 On lands they cling to lands they represent 
 As being secured to them by guarantee 
 Grows every day more loud, more blustering ; 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 147 
 
 Th J alarum, deafening in its resonance, 
 
 Salutes the Commonweal defiantly. [domain, 
 
 COL. BUTLER. As feature which delimits their 
 They claim, with iterance, Ohio's stream ; 
 Beyond that waterway the truculent 
 Backwoodsman drives them unrelentingly. 
 
 TIIAY. Before dissension reached its present height, 
 The Senecas' magnetic orator 251 
 
 Red Jacket had inflamed them mightily. 
 He would revive the dream of Pontiac ; 
 Through a cementing of those looser tribes 
 By arms to subjugate the continent. 
 Th' upheaval, Butler, has significance 
 For the Six-Nations ; since the sovereigns 
 Of those far kingdoms reckoned such with pride 
 Their ancient patrimony ; the aroused, 
 Sore-agitated subjects of these wrongs 260 
 
 Angle for the support of our depressed 
 Our almost water-logged confederacy ; 
 Want me as intermediary to draw 
 My faint, afflicted countrymen as well 
 As those their offshoots by St. Lawrence found 
 Into the maelstrom of their enmities. [Should I 
 
 COL. B. How construed, chieftain, your remarks ? 
 Conclude from them that you these plaining tribes' 
 Advances are averse to entertain ? 
 
148 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 You have not always blamed their policy ; 270 
 
 Nor with repugnance its maturing marked. 
 
 THAY. Colonel, I candidly confess that I 
 At one time countenanced aggressive steps ; 
 But while (as ever) zealous to denounce 
 The malice fostered the injustice done 
 Procrustes' alter ego, Circumstance ; 
 Prostrate upon whose couch Man's Life have all 
 To its manipulation to submit, 
 Did more pacific feeling generate. 
 What could we gain through the entanglement ? 
 How would our aid, our service be recouped ? 281 
 Vested in us by parchment, under seal 
 Of Haldimand, the tenure of demesnes 
 Of large extent potential opulence. 
 Why should we recklessly endanger their 
 Possession, by our entry meddlesome 
 On quarrel which the King ; although he still 
 Retains in pawn th' outlying fortresses 
 Largely because it serves as stimulant 
 To the secessionists to ratify 290 
 
 Their pledges to these Indians disapproves 1 
 Better the ferment to accommodate. 
 Our worldly stock, once carried to the pound, 
 Could we, with hope, for its redemption look ? 
 The concept with imprudence is replete ; 
 
THA YEN D ANEGE A. 149 
 
 Their project's leaky ship, if it leave port, 
 Will take big cargo of fool hardiness. 
 
 COL. BUTLER. I think with you it could not but 
 A scaling of the topmost altitude [denote 
 
 Of folly to oppose their feebleness 300 
 
 Their noted dearth of war-material 
 To our proud neighbor's wealth ; match these against 
 His ingenuity, cohesive strength 
 Girt this with buckler in the confidence 
 Accruing in Experience's school. 
 Should, then, a rising haplessly ensue, 
 Insure it must its own futility. 
 
 THAT. Before the close of navigation, I 
 Redeeming written promise that I gave 
 Sail for Detroit ; there striving in debate 310 
 
 With speakers chosen by the Miamis 
 (They, with the Sha\vanese and Kickapoos, 
 Are hot for war, whereas the Delawares, 
 The Pottawatomies and Chippewas, 
 The Ottawas seem predisposed to peace) 
 When I shall not alone decline to lend 
 My people's sinews to enlarge the rift ; 
 But urge my froward fellows to discard 
 An attitude, which surely must for them 319 
 
 The march accelerate of destiny. [address 
 
 COL. B. With your self-balance consummate 
 
150 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 You must with them yourself ingratiate. 
 Whilst I would be to strand unwind from yarn 
 Of prophecy prone, chieftain, to affirm, 
 That were it not your cue to reconcile, 
 But rather to engage in the affray, 
 Your operations could not but enhance 
 Root durably your enviable repute 
 As one deep-learned in warfare's subtleties ; 
 Much gratified am I to know that you, 330 
 
 During your sojourn in the mother-land, 
 Developed less hard-metalled aptitudes ; 
 While there, the sugared cates of Fame partook 
 None of the adulation missed which form 
 The gilt oblation of Society. 
 Will you as light refection for the brain 
 A pasty knead of those frivolities ? [hand 
 
 THAY, First, then desired to kiss King George's 
 I was excused from the performance, when, 
 (Rail at me for a cheerful egotist) 340 
 
 I did, assuming air of stateliness, 
 Give out that I a reverenced sovereign was 
 In my own realm ; presumption packed in which 
 Tall flourish I essayed to mitigate, 
 By an ingenuous offer to enact 
 Like graceful tableau with the Queen Charlotte. 
 Succeeded hap tinged with some gravity ; 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 151 
 
 When masque I graced in toggery of Mars. 
 
 The Sultan's maladroit ambassador, 
 
 Affecting to be highly sceptical 350 
 
 Of my face-pigment's being a true vermeil ; 
 
 No sanction pleaded from Byzantium, 
 
 T' explore my nose made gesture tentative. 
 
 I straight restored him to demeanor staid ; 
 
 Upset the fair sex' equanimity, 
 
 By vicious swinging of my tomahawk. 
 
 I chummed with Boswell ; joked with Fox ; 
 
 Grew intimate with sparkling Sheridan ; 
 
 The friendship gained of philippizing Burke : 
 
 Challenged the public gaze, in general. 360 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE 8. PLACE : Indian Agency at Detroit an 
 assembly of North- Western Indians in convention. 
 
 TIME: 1788. 
 Enter THAYENDANEQEA and a chief of the Miamis. 
 
 MIAMI CHIEF. We one recourse, Thayendanegea, 
 With our petition to you to extend [have, 
 
 Our hard-pressed league your tried adherents' help 
 In their adversity (through our complaint 
 Is voiced the Chippewas', the Delawares', 
 The Ottawas', Shawanese', Kickapoos', 
 The Pottawatomies) this to address 
 
152 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Your sense of racial pride and dignity ; 
 
 The heart-strings finger of the patriot. 
 
 With obligations twisted ; treaties cracked 
 
 The tonsure practised on their sanctity; 371 
 
 With faith proscribed of right oblivious 
 
 Scoffed at, rode over rough-shod are our claims : 
 
 Their honor flown seared their humanity 
 
 Our welfare's blasted, marred our happiness ; 
 
 Cheated are we of comfort, as bereft 
 
 Of ease; subsistence life is jeopardized, [cupidity. 
 
 Through "Long Knives'" hate, "Long Knives'" 
 
 They covet everything which we can boast ; 
 
 Estates the stinted substance we enjoy. 380 
 
 The lands that hug Ohio's western rim, 
 
 'Tis urged, forsooth, are much too valuable 
 
 The rolling pastures by its affluents, 
 
 The Wabash, the Scioto, fertilized 
 
 Too broad, accessible, for us to hold : 
 
 Hie, therefore, to the western wilderness 
 
 We must to seek a ruder, meaner home ! 
 
 Hunted are we to passively submit ? 
 
 Plundered, despoiled, shall we remain content ? 
 
 With folded arms look on, and see 390 
 
 Our treasured properties our goods absorbed ? 
 
 Lie by, with torpid unconcern, to find 
 
 Swallowed the vails of faithful husbandry ; 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 153 
 
 The hardships felt the travail borne by us 
 As pioneers disclaimed ? Poltroons, shall we 
 Permit the sweetened ties, which birth upon 
 The soil begets the fire-side consecrates 
 To go unpriced, un weighed : attachments hopes 
 Make no attempt to rescue these from blight 1 399 
 THAY. Courageous champion of an honored line ! 
 Whilst I commiserate your cheerless lot ; 
 Indignantly revolve those grievances, 
 Which you delineate so touchingly ; 
 Jealous trustee of others' interests, 
 Less amply dowered with judgment less 
 Securely cased in wisdom's armoury 
 I scarce could be expected to embark 
 On venture, that would fatefully commit 
 My not unworried fold to course, which wombs 
 A stake momentous, without its assay 410 
 
 By Reason's probe ; without dependence placed 
 On her informing plummet's cast. I, chief 
 So sifted ; from its bran of fatuousness, 
 Bolting the niggard flour of sanity, 
 Impugn (I knew beforehand that you aimed 
 At war) your remedy ; frankly pronouncing it 
 As ill-judged, as it is unpromising. 
 Can you, with your sparse numbers weak resource 
 Hope to prevail against the thirteen States, 
 
154 THAYENDANEG^A. 
 
 Their armies trained their deadly implements ? 
 
 Be not deluded into fancying 421 
 
 The King doth conjoint action meditate. 
 
 With promptness, friend, quit that Fool's Paradise ! 
 
 Indifferent, nor callous would I seem 
 
 Yet th' armed assistance which you supplicate 
 
 Refuse I unreservedly to give. 
 
 Be governed by more sensible advice : 
 
 Exhaust the soothing, the placating arts 
 
 Of mild diplomacy ; the central power invoke 
 
 Envoys t' accredit to a conference ; 430 
 
 With view to your attaining an accord. 
 
 Throw out the grappling-hooks of compromise ; 
 
 Take you the turning Caution points you to ; 
 
 Grasp you the life-line Safety stretches you. 
 
 While not repenting of our steadfastness, 
 
 Our smitten federation in the past 
 
 Purchased, through rash unsheathing of the sword, 
 
 Of pain of anguish an eternity. 
 
 Had we election made th' Oneidas did, 
 
 During the late convulsions, brother, then, 440 
 
 No mocking memories of pleasant paths 
 
 Once trod ; of fertile fields once tended reaped 
 
 Would now our waking thoughts employ ; our joys 
 
 Diminish, and our peace disturb ; no glimpse 
 
 Of devastated, blackened homes would our 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 155 
 
 Imagination haunt our dreams oppress : 
 No Marah, with its rinseless after-taste 
 Of fallen fortunes ruined prospects would 
 Offensive contact with our lips have known. 
 
 [Exeunt omnes. 
 
 SCENE 9. PLACE : Upper Canada The Highway, 
 Burlington Heights. 
 
 TIME : Circ. 1800. 
 
 Rushes upon THAYENDANEGEA, walking towards the 
 Heights' hostelry, his son ISAAC liquor-crazed 
 with brandished knife, and breathing sanguinary 
 threats. In self-defence, THAYENDANEGEA is forced 
 to meet his attack by using the small-sword of the 
 British officer, which he always carried on his 
 person. In the encounter the son is killed. 
 
 THAYENDANEGEA (Solus). To what accusing sacri- 
 lege has this 450 
 Paternal arm been driven ? What act undreamt 
 Atoneless have I compassed 1 In what dread 
 Arena been th' impetuous, yet all 
 Unwilling actor ? Shall I not inveigh 
 The fetid spring against of tragedy 
 So fearsome ? Maledictions bitter 1 
 Outpour upon that fanged serpent drink ; 
 Ready accomplice, tool reliable 
 
156 THAYENDANEGEA, 
 
 Of Satan ; who, his wiles insidious 
 Practised afresh on victim pliable 460 
 
 Caught at once more by mindless prey him launched 
 On devious course ; planted in fateful ways : 
 Helped guided hurried to appalling end. 
 Saddening enough the thought that reasoning soul 
 Should make surrender abject kneel a slave 
 To that dishonoring, that slakeless thirst, 
 Which man so often woos ; to instinct gross 
 He stubbornly asserts to work his own 
 Undoing. But for Isaac him my first- 
 Born of all beings sentient linked with this 470 
 Broad planet ; but for him, my cherished and 
 Close image, thus enchained embruted ; whilst 
 Owning that spur malign, against whose power 
 Fought I a life-crusade to blindly spend 
 On this fond frame his baleful rage ; o'er me 
 To poise disgraceful dart ; in me to choose 
 The object for unhallowed, callous blow ! 
 Still, were there not repellent memories 
 Portents, alas, full sinister to preach 479 
 
 Forewarning of this luckless, this unnerving hour 1 
 Had not a dismal, harsh experience 
 Given cogent cause to be prepared for such 
 Forbidding, ghastly scene ? In days agone 
 (Four lustres since that hapless contact) when 
 
THAYENDANEGEA. 157 
 
 My sum of years enabled to oppose 
 
 An even strength to his mad onset, it 
 
 Became my wretched, my abhorred lot 
 
 To meet assault as frenzied struggle know 
 
 As desperate : strife springing from the same 
 
 Inflaming source ; strife fathered by the same 490 
 
 Resistless impulse. Then ordained, as now, 
 
 Strait most unkind trial most sore to ward 
 
 Unfilial stroke ; combat a might, which well- 
 
 Nigh overwhelmed me ; which the target grazed 
 
 Of its perverted purpose. But to-day 
 
 When that corrosive time, unchecked, bestows 
 
 Its blemishes ; (demon compassionless !) 
 
 Hastes to impress its ravages : when age 
 
 Disables with its wounds ; no longer now 
 
 Postpones invasion of the fibres ; doth 500 
 
 Palsy the muscles, and the sap dilute, 
 
 The natural forces could I not array 
 
 So as to stem that rush infuriate 
 
 Th' unaided powers sufficed not to beat back 
 
 The vigorous, the deadly thrust. And so 
 
 This knife ; though guiltless of intent 
 
 Its self-loathed, stricken wielder (threatened was 
 
 My own slow-pulsing life by dint of that 
 
 Most vehement and straining close) evoked, 
 
 In blood, sequence irreparable. Can naught 510 
 
158 THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
 Avail to temper the remorse ; assuage 
 
 The tumult in this grief -charged breast? 
 
 How should these clutchers at my vitals grim, 
 
 Relentless Typhons, flogging Furies, be bought off? 
 
 These robbers of my peace rnainprized 1 When shall 
 
 Surcease be had for this wild agony ? 
 
 Be raised for me dispiteous Torture's siege 1 
 
 [Exit THAYENDANEGEA. 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
 
 NOTES TO ACT I. 
 
 LINK 1. " Onguiaahra." One of the many variants for 
 the name of the " Falls " and river having vogue at the time. 
 It is the form used by Lalemant in his Relation des Hurons. 
 The stress should be laid on the penult, which approximates 
 to the sound of aw in " law." 
 
 LINES 8-10; 15, 16. A guttering discontent the outcome, 
 often, of discrepant causes in particular colonies not seldom 
 flaring up into actual insubordination, was rife among the 
 inhabitants of certain of the eastern and sea-board Provinces 
 even before the period of the French conquest. 
 
 LINE 17. "Of the silk-woven banner both emit." The 
 flag of the Bourbons exhibited for its device a triad of 
 golden fleurs-de-lis, on a field of white samite. 
 
 LINE 36. "Gael's second-sight vouchsafed me for the 
 nonce." Many of the Scotch Highlanders arrogate the 
 faculty of looking into the future ; while the regular appear- 
 ance of a family spectre, who comes to foretell approach- 
 ing disaster or death, may, with confidence, be predicated. 
 A striking example of this is furnished us in the case of 
 Major Duncan Campbell, of the Black Watch. Several years 
 before he joined the 42nd, while in his Castle of Inverawe, he 
 had a vision. The wraith of his cousin Donald, whose murderer 
 he had unwittingly sworn to shelter, thrice appeared to him ; 
 upon the last occasion pronouncing the doomful words : 
 "Farewell, Inverawe ; farewell, till we meet atTicoNDEROGA !" 
 The strange name dwelt in Campbell's memory ; and when, 
 in the year 1758, while serving under Abercromby, he 
 was ordered to the attack upon Ticonderoga, he became 
 instantly possessed with the gloomy certainty that death 
 there awaited him. When the fortress was reached, his 
 
160 EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
 
 brother officers, aware of his superstitious fears, endeavored 
 to relieve his mind by assuring him that they had not yet 
 come to the fatal spot, but were then at Fort George. On 
 the morning of the attack, Campbell came to them, with 
 haggard face, saying : " I have seen him ! You have deceived 
 me ! He came to my tent last night ! This is Ticonderoga ! 
 I shall die to-day ! " The prediction was fulfilled, as he 
 received his death- wound in the ensuing engagement. 
 
 LINES 38-45. The author would have scrupled to allow 
 this image (caviare to the general) to be evoked by a civilian. 
 
 LINES 46-8. Dramatic exigencies occasion a slight depar- 
 ture from fact, in indicating a meeting, as though for the first 
 time, of the two commanders at Niagara. Johnson joined 
 Prideaux at Oswego. 
 
 LINES 48-52. Sir William Johnson, as yet an untitled 
 Colonel of Militia, when he arrived at Lake George (known 
 previously to the French as Lac St. Sacrement) changed, 
 on the eve of the struggle, its designation to that which 
 it has since borne ; choosing the sovereign's name in order 
 to proclaim his territorial supremacy. 
 
 LINES 58-63. - Sir William Johnson, as stated in the fore- 
 going note, was at this time an inexperienced militia-man. 
 
 LINES 69-75. General Prideaux succeeded George Augus- 
 tus, third Viscount Howe (older brother of Admiral Lord 
 Howe, of "glorious first of June" fame, and of General 
 Sir William Howe) as Colonel of the 55th Regiment of the 
 line. Howe was killed, while bravely leading an assault 
 against the French, near a point on the west side of the 
 narrow channel, by which access is had to Lake George 
 from the north, called Rogers' Rock. The battle of the 8th 
 September, 1755, was fought at its southern extremity. 
 
 LINE 87. T(A)ayendanegea. The accent is on the penult. 
 Morgan spells it Ta-yen-da-na-ga. He was born in 1742. 
 
 LINE 89. The author has, in a minor detail, deviated 
 from history, by representing that Hendrick was shot down 
 before Johnson's eyes. He lost his life, in reality, in the 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTES. 161 
 
 preliminary conflict, which was precipitated by an attempt 
 to discover the lurking-place of the French. Thayendanegea 
 was with the Mohawk auxiliaries under Hendrick. 
 
 LINE 115. "To blossom into an academy." Colonel 
 Ephraim Williams, on his way to Lake George, tarried at 
 Albany to make his will ; by which he conveyed the bulk of 
 his estate to trustees to found a seat of learning ; trammelling 
 the grant only with the condition that it should bear his 
 name. The academy was, in course of time, erected ; and 
 perpetuates its founder's memory in the present Williams 
 College, at Williamstown, Mass. 
 
 LINES 133, 4. Bradstreet, by a dashing descent made 
 from the interior of the colony (New York) had captured 
 Fort Frontenac during the previous summer. 
 
 LINES 135, 6.** By whom La Corne's blind dash has 
 just been foiled." The news of this unpleasant check for 
 the French had been brought but a few days before. 
 
 LINE 151. Sir William Johnson has been made use of 
 to propagate the judgment of a number of military critics, 
 concerning Pitt's plan of campaign, ventilated at the moment 
 of the programme's being evolved. 
 
 LINES 165-9. The work of the English engineers in build- 
 ing the initial approaches had been so defective as to call for 
 unsparing animadversions from General Prideaux. 
 
 LINE 179." Sonnontouans." The French name for the 
 Senecas. 
 
 LINE 229." Did I not battle for you frequently?" The 
 speaker was pressing on the envoys' notice the French victories 
 at Oswego, in 1756, the second affair of Fort William Henry 
 in 1757, and Ticonderoga in 1758 ; when French he with 
 them and Iroquois fought side by side. Captain Pouchot 
 was a man of marked ability ; and was the chief military 
 engineer of the French throughout the campaigns ; building, 
 strengthening, and renovating in addition to the defensive 
 works at Le"vis the greater number of their forts, including 
 Fort Niagara, a fact to which he refers in lines 430->2. 
 
162 EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
 
 LINES 266-72. " Missisakes." The French name for the 
 
 LINES 273-88. " Pouteotamies. " The French name for 
 the Pottawatomies. 
 
 LINE 274. ' * Isle. " The Indians' appellative for America. 
 
 LINE 314. The author would defy the most studious, 
 untiring investigator to locate with certainty La Belle 
 Famille. Parkman says the subsequent collision with the 
 French relief-force occurred there. If this be so, it seems 
 curious that Pouchot should have accepted without challenge 
 the declaration of the Indians that they, in the capacity of 
 neutrals, proposed transferring themselves to the point which 
 he must have known was the one most likely to be chosen 
 for what could not fail to have been regarded by him as an 
 inevitable, as it promised to be an early, encounter. In the 
 French commandant's memoirs there is at least one reference, 
 which leaves it in doubt whether the elusive site was not on 
 the west bank of the river. 
 
 LINE 320. The fort called " Little Niagara," about a 
 mile and a half south, on the portage from the Falls. Being 
 pronounced untenable, Chabert was directed by Pouchot to 
 burn it, and, with its inmates, proceed to Fort Niagara. 
 
 LINES 322. The most intimate idea which was then 
 vouchsafed to the aboriginal understanding touching the 
 peculiar economy the salient properties of bombs was 
 unbosomed by their comparing those death-dealing agents 
 to " hot kettles." 
 
 LINES 384-90. This incident, as well as the remainder of 
 those which expose the internal proceedings of the French, 
 is historical ; and has been transcribed, with trifling varia- 
 tion or gloss, from Pouchot's memoirs of the siege. 
 
 LINES 421-4. The "Diet, of Nat'l Biog. " (art. on Prideaux) 
 affords this information. The author has been unable to con- 
 firm it by allusions of any other authority, except McMullen. 
 
 LINES 443, 4." He de Marine." Navy Island. 
 
 LINE 455. Pouchot's memoirs demonstrate, beyond the 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTES. 163 
 
 admission of a doubt, that the battle with the relief-force was 
 fought somewhere within the limits comprised by the clearing. 
 Pouchot was enabled to see, though indistinctly, the man- 
 oeuvres from the fort, as the text discloses ; while it cannot 
 be questioned that the open space did not extend, southerly 
 from the fort, for more than two miles at the outside. Dr. 
 Kingsford says that the fight occurred nine miles above 
 the fort ; and it is this assertion which induced the author 
 to invite attention to the conditions tending to support 
 the theory adopted in the text. 
 
 LINE 467. By reason of the obscurity in which the situa- 
 tion of La Belle Famille would seem to be involved, the 
 portage-outlet has been risked as a sufficiently definite state- 
 ment of locality. 
 
 LINK 503. The exertions made to balance the tireless 
 activity combat the potent intrigue of the Jesuits were 
 put forth, of course, by Johnson himself; but the author 
 preferred that he should not self-satisfiedly trumpet his own 
 achievements. 
 
 LINES 523, 4. Massey, as a reyular \ had the right of 
 succession. 
 
 LINE 552. " Presqu' He." Now Erie, Perm. 
 
 LINK 553. " Fort Machault and Le Bceuf." Now Frank- 
 lin (the old Venango of the English) and Waterford, Penn., 
 respectively. 
 
 FRAMEWORK OF SCENE 7. The author volunteers the 
 confession that he has done violence to history in put- 
 ting Sir William Johnson in the trenches. Major Farquhar 
 discharged the function of watch-dog in this connection ; 
 but, not wishing to sacrifice the item altogether, the author 
 thought he would be pardoned for not importing a fresh 
 character into the play, merely for the purpose of delivering 
 the eight or ten lines needed to commemorate it. As a result 
 of the battle, not announced in the verse, the two French Com- 
 manders, Aubry and De Ligneris, were, with a large number 
 of their command, taken prisoners ; the fort, in addition, 
 being compelled to surrender. 
 
164 EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
 
 NOTES TO ACT II. 
 
 LINE 59. There was an Upper and Lower " Castle" of 
 the Mohawks. 
 
 LINES 103-6. These companion services, one of which is 
 preserved in the old Mohawk Church, near Brantford, and 
 the other in the family of Dr. Oronhyatekha (whose wife is a 
 great-grand-daughter of Brant) are models of artistically 
 chased silver. Engraved on the flagon of each set is this 
 inscription: "A.R. 1711. The gift of Her Majesty, Ann, 
 by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, and 
 of her plantations in North America, Queen, to her Indian 
 chappel of the Mohawks. " 
 
 LINE 107. The speech which constitutes the foundation 
 for this scene affords such striking testimony of the 
 polemical ability of Thayendanegea ; it illustrates so strongly 
 his native clearness of reasoning argues his possession of so 
 large a fund of logical acumen that it had been proposed to 
 to insert it in extenxo ; but c'rcumstances have rendered a 
 curtailment of the notes absolutely necessary. The thought 
 enwrapped in the lines 113-6 inclusive was, in substance, 
 expressed. 
 
 LINE 150. "The younger Livingston." William Living- 
 ston, who became the First Governor of New Jersey, under 
 the new dispensation soon after inaugurated. 
 
 LINE 172. Monckton was not Governor Tryon's imme- 
 diate, predecessor. 
 
 LINE 261. Brant had summarily put down a rising of the 
 Delawares in 1764, which, unchecked the faggot having 
 felt the flame kindled the preceding year by Pontiac would, 
 undoubtedly, have been fraught with serious consequences 
 for the English. The conflagration blazed out afresh, when, 
 a few months afterwards, the Shawanese formed an offensive 
 alliance with the Delawares ; Ijut was quickly extinguished 
 by Colonel Bouquet. 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTES. 165 
 
 LINE 281. " Who planned to train my mind's crude 
 faculties ? " Thayendanegea, with several other Indian lads, 
 had been sent by Sir William Johnson to Moor's Indian 
 school, at Lebanon, Conn. ; to whose principal, Dr. Eleazar 
 Wheelock, Johnson having himself profoundly at heart 
 their temporal and spiritual welfare extended warm and 
 unwavering sympathy in all his efforts towards the enlighten- 
 ment of the Indians. The school was later transferred to 
 Hanover, N.H., and its name changed to Dartmouth College, 
 which appellation it bears to-day. In after years, two of 
 Brant's sons received their education in the same institution, 
 under the guidance of Dr. Wheelock's son, who succeeded his 
 father in the presidency of the college. Although originally 
 an Indian mission school, whites do not appear to have been 
 excluded, since Brant numbered among his school-fellows 
 several of European stock. 
 
 LINKS 287-303. Brant had vainly petitioned Mr. Stuart 
 to marry him to his deceased wife's half-sister. 
 
 LINE 304. The work of translating the Scriptures into 
 Mohawk, upon which Brant and the Rev. John Stuart were 
 then engaged, had, perforce, on the part of the former, to 
 be laid aside for more bellicose pursuits. When peace was 
 restored, Thayendanegea resumed the work by himself; 
 unaided, translating anew St. Mark's Gospel, and por- 
 tions of the Book of Common Prayer, as well as preparing a 
 useful primer. 
 
 LINE 311. "Into your Canienga the chaste text.' 
 Canienga, Kanienga, Kanyungeh stand, in the Indian 
 philology, for Mohawk. 
 
 LINE 325. Johnstown was founded by Sir William John- 
 son. 
 
 LINE 340." Sacked the Chief Justice' sightly residence." 
 Thomas Hutchinson was at this time Chief Justice. 
 
 LINES 363-82. The episode of the Whately letters, with 
 the complications it occasioned, forms one of the most 
 memorable occurrences of the epoch. Sir William's last 
 words prematurely record the exact fate of the petition. 
 
166 EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
 
 LINES 397-9. How strangely parallel seem the cases of 
 Sir William Johnson and the chivalrous Montrose. The latter 's 
 original lines, through which are breathed such lofty decision 
 such unconquerable purpose may be appropriately cited : 
 
 " He either fears his fate too much, or his deserts are small, 
 That dares not put it to the touch, to win or lose it all." 
 
 LINE 404. The "Royal Grant." This gift was spontan- 
 eously bestowed upon Johnson by the Indians an outward 
 and visible sign of the great esteem in which they held him, 
 the undisguised affection which they felt for him. It after- 
 wards received the necessary ratification by the king. 
 
 LINE 410. " My son's endowing with the accolade." The 
 circumstance of Sir John Johnson's attaining the distinction 
 of knighthood involves an interesting point. At the time 
 of his father's being created a baronet, the rule decreed 
 that the eldest son of a person so honored became, on reaching 
 maturity, a knight. The provision was not abrogated until 
 the beginning of the century. 
 
 LINES 435-41. It is proper to be observed here that Sir 
 William Johnson was at the same time the most extensive 
 land-owner and the most opulent inhabitant of the colony. 
 
 LINE 497. "Th' immortal treaty with the Senecas." 
 This important treaty, made in 1764, gave Great Britain 
 the ownership of a strip of land, four miles in width, on 
 either side of the Niagara River the concession embracing 
 all the islands, as well between the Falls and Lake Erie. 
 
 LINE 498. The Fort Stanwix treaty, concluded in 1768, 
 determined the western boundary between the territory of 
 the settlers and Indians. 
 
 LINES 505, 6. One of his biographers has applied the 
 term " heaven -born general" a characterization, doubtless, 
 first bestowed upon Clive after Plassey to Sir William 
 Johnson. 
 
 LINE 547. Sir William Johnson had united himself, 
 according to Indian sanctions, with Brant's sister Molly. 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTES. 167 
 
 LINE 560-5. It is a noteworthy fact that it was through 
 the loving solicitude of the Mohawks for Sir William John- 
 son that the recuperative qualities of the Springs at Saratoga 
 became known to the world. Beholding the sufferings of 
 their "Great Brother," the warriors, in August, 1767, with 
 touching devotion, insisted upon bearing him part of the 
 way in a litter on their shoulders to this famous spot, 
 whose health-giving properties were well known to them. 
 
 LINES 577-9. Sir William Johnson, during the currency 
 of the French wars, gave refuge in his own stronghold of 
 Fort Johnson, for weeks, to a number of the Bourbon King's 
 soldiers ; whose lives were endangered by the threatening 
 posture of the Indians. To disabuse any mind of the impres- 
 sion that the Alpine height of eulogium, which might be 
 thought to be descried through Major Butler's fluent superla- 
 tives, has been unwarrantably opened to view, the author 
 is content to confide in to rest on the ministry of two 
 accessories the summing up which the younger Stone 
 admits into his biography of Sir William Johnson, that " he 
 was the greatest character of the age " ; and the prefatory 
 remarks of the editor of his " Conferences and Treaties : " 
 "To the truly British soul, whose eyes are forced on every 
 object that may affect his country ; to the loyal heart which 
 glows with warmth at the name of the honored and illus- 
 trious hero of these pages ; to him who knows the valor, 
 martial qualifications and political talents of that victorious 
 general, this book will afford a pleasing entertainment." 
 
 LINES 606-8. Massachusetts Bay the gun-cotton cram- 
 med into the ordnance of the revolt had just responded to 
 the agitation at the touch-hole. 
 
 LINES 617-19. The reference is to the statute directing 
 a trial in England of those concerned in the ebullient 
 Boston riots. The author would say, generally, that he has 
 simply amplified the genuine heads of the argument ad- 
 dressed to the intemperate gathering by Colonel Johnson. 
 
 LINE 658. The real contestant with Colonel Johnson on 
 
168 EXPLANATORY NOTES. . 
 
 this occasion was Jacob Sammons, the son of Sampson. The 
 author considered, however, that it would be advisable to 
 pit against the influence and weight in the community of 
 ColonelJohnson a partizan not more inferior to him in stand- 
 ing and importance than it was practicable to procure ; and, 
 for this reason (the son, too, an unmoneyed, dependent young 
 man of twenty-two being unlikely to enjoy the needful insight 
 into the situation) imposed the burden of the emergency upon 
 the father as perfervid a "patriot," certainly, as his son. 
 A project taken in hand by him for rescuing a political 
 prisoner from gaol led to firing the first shot in New York. 
 
 LINES 663, 4. The rebutting speech does not circumscribe 
 itself to the case of New York ; which, with Delaware and 
 North Carolina, escaped this prohibition. Whether ex- 
 cusable procedure or not, there was embanked by the 
 residents of one colony, exempted from their operation, a 
 reservoir of sympathy with the oppression and wrongs 
 imagined to be visited upon, or endured by another ; repeated 
 turnings on of the hydrants connecting with which it was 
 impossible to resist. 
 
 NOTES TO ACT III. 
 
 LINE 5. "Macdonells with no paltry pedigree.'* A 
 number of the Macdonells, accompanying Sir John Johnson 
 in his flight to Canada, in 1776, joined their clansmen in 
 Glengarry. The chief of one branch of the clan is Mr. John 
 A. Macdonell, of Alexandria. 
 
 LINES 11-3. Sir John did not, in reality, begin to fortify 
 Johnson Hall until the winter. 
 
 LINES 19-22. Alexander White, who was conspicuous for 
 his Royalist proclivities ; expressed through a chain of overt 
 acts giving great umbrage to the colonials the most grudge- 
 enkindling of which was his uprooting of a " Liber ty- Pole " 
 in the German Flats. 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTES. 169 
 
 LINE 28. In this, and in line 43, by the Council is meant 
 the New York Assembly. 
 
 LINE 48. Rev. Samuel Kirkland was chaplain to the 
 Oneidas, and exercised an unbounded influence over them. 
 His son became Principal of Harvard College. 
 
 LINE 90-2. The precept, as it was recalled by his pupil to 
 Dr. Wheelock, ran: " That they " (the boys) "might be able 
 to live as good subjects, to fear God, and honor the King. " 
 
 LINE 1 12. Shenectady . One of the countless orthographic 
 samples of the vocable which denotes the ancient city. 
 
 LINE 122." Warraghiyagey." The Indian name for Sir 
 William Johnson. He had, for reasons which he regarded 
 sufficient, resigned his post of Superintendent of Indian 
 Affairs in 1751,, and did not resume it till 1755. 
 
 LINK 179. Sir Guy Carleton was known to be strongly 
 averse to the employment of Indians ; and had declined the 
 aid of certain of the tribes, when he was required to meet 
 Montgomery and Arnold's disturbing invasion. 
 
 LINE 205. "Kora." Kora, Goragh corruptions of Cor- 
 laer was a title derived from the patronymic of a Dutch 
 patroon in the Mohawk Valley, Arendt VanCorlaer, for whom 
 the Iroquois entertained great reverence ; and was given by 
 them to the English Governors of Canada. The Queen of 
 Great Britain is still called by many of the Indians " Kora- 
 Kowa," or Chief Governor. 
 
 LINES 218-30. The verbatim judgment of the chief in this 
 connection (not delivered, however, until after the war) was, 
 " I like the organ well, the harpsichord better ; but the 
 drum and trumpet best of all, for they make my heart beat 
 quick." 
 
 LINE 313. Whilst the author questions whether it can be 
 positively established that Thayendanegea was not at this 
 Council, the accounts we have of his movements at the time 
 would seem to preclude the possibility of such being the case. 
 He did not return from England until the beginning of 
 August ; and Capt. Cruikshank, in his pamphlet, "Joseph 
 
170 EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
 
 Brant in the Revolution," declares that he fought in the 
 battle of Long Island, at the end of the month. It like- 
 wise appears that while in New York he, in November, 
 offered himself upon a mission to the Mohawk Valley. 
 Nevertheless since it can be averred beyond dispute that 
 he attended a great many councils of the period it has 
 been thought that a dramatic license would sanction his 
 being introduced at what was the most important Indian 
 palaver of the day. The Indians' posture did not become 
 irrevocable until the Council at Oswego in the following year. 
 
 LINE 374. The trio of picturesque lakes in the Cayugas' 
 country Cayuga, Owasco and Skaneateles. 
 
 LINE 434. The date of this meeting is shrouded in 
 dubiety. Some authorities say the end of June ; Campbell, in 
 his " Annals of Try on County " an allegation this which 
 Stone endorses speaks of a fine July morning. The 4th of 
 July has been selected for a reason sufficiently apparent. 
 
 LINES 440-52. The ensign was not, in reality, unfurled 
 until the commencement of the siege. 
 
 LINES 466-73. The oral passages indulged are, as nearly 
 as possible, in the language of the real altercation, 
 
 LINES 481-4. The Trenton collision took place in the 
 night between the 25th and 26th December, 1776, and that 
 at Princeton in the night between the 1st and 2nd January, 
 1777. 
 
 LINE 510, 1. " The fame transcendent of the Kennebec." 
 The piercing by Arnold of the Kennebec wilderness has 
 been compared to Napoleon's passage of the Simplon. 
 
 LINES 533-7. Lafayette not only tendered his sword to 
 Washington, but had placed at his disposal his large fortune. 
 
 LINES 554-63. Herkimer solicited, as a quid pro quo for 
 altered conduct towards the missionary, the surrender of 
 some deserters ; but the chief denied his request. Mr. Stuart 
 was not allowed to leave until 1780. 
 
 LINE 566. Hartwick's Grant. Now Cooperstown, at the 
 southern extremity of Otsego Lake. There was, as a matter 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTES. 171 
 
 of fact, no proceeding by Herkimer, nor prior agreement 
 entered into with Schuyler to proceed, to Hartwick's Grant. 
 A pretext adequate enough to bring about an enlargement of 
 the negotiations till the following day had, notwithstanding, 
 to be found, in order to give Herkimer time to summon 
 his accomplice ; and lay in train the projected mine, of the 
 groundwork of which the discussion carried on in the suc- 
 ceeding scene makes suitable disclosure. Cooperstown was 
 founded, in 1786, by the father of J. Fenimore Cooper ; and 
 was the novelist's birth-place. 
 
 LINE 601 As a conception lending itself to a more satis- 
 factory evolution of the crisis, the author, as will be observed, 
 imagines Waggoner conscience-stung to have resolved 
 on notifying Thayendanegea of the machinations at work 
 against him. 
 
 LINE 621. This declaration was actually made, but not 
 till after the war. It formed the answer of the Mohawks 
 to a proposal from the Senecas that they should settle 
 amonst them. 
 
 LINE 625. The Six-Nations invariably called the insurgents 
 " Bostonians. " 
 
 FRAMEWORK OF SCENES 5 AND 7. There has been, in 
 handing down the transactions embodied in the interviews 
 which form the bases for these two scenes, a close adherence 
 to history. The only essential variation a liberty resorted 
 to by the author for the purpose of providing an inspiriting 
 culmination to the act lies in the conjuring up by the 
 chief of the apparition of his dependents from the forest, 
 on the occasion of the resumed debate with Herkimer. This 
 intensely theatrical interruption of their parley took place on 
 the first day. The sachem, having good ground to appre- 
 hend a display of bad faith, employed the precautionary 
 measure of having his warriors within call. 
 
 LINE 643. " How flourishes the exile ?" Klock, by reason 
 of his systematic misconduct, was forced to flee the country. 
 
 LINE 645. The epithet used was even more scurrilous. 
 
172 EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
 
 LINES 685-7. Brant and Herkimer had, for several years, 
 resided within three miles of each other. The situation was on 
 the south side of the river near the present town of Danube. 
 
 LINES 712-4. Thayendanegea turned out to be no fallible 
 diviner ; for the contingency signified through the words 
 these being historic in which he couches his farewell greet- 
 ing to Herkimer, drifted into verity. 
 
 NOTES TO ACT IV. 
 
 LINE 5. The entire course of the war would have been 
 changed, had not Lord George Germain, who was at this time 
 Secretary of State for the Colonies, been guilty of incredible 
 negligence. "Lord George, having, among other peculiar- 
 ities, a particular aversion to be put out of his way on any 
 occasion, had arranged to call at his office, on the way to 
 the country, in order to sign the despatches " (authorizing 
 Howe to form a junction with Burgoyne) "but, as those 
 addressed to Howe had not been ' fair copied ' ; and he was 
 not disposed to be balked of his projected visit into Kent, 
 they were not signed then , and were forgotten on his return 
 to town." Lord E. Fitzmaurice's " Life of Lord Shelburne." 
 
 LINE 12. Valcour was an island in Lake Champlain. 
 
 LINE 15. St. Glair yielded the fort at the first summons. 
 
 LINE 22. "The Great Carrying-Place." The short 
 portage conducting from the source of the Mohawk, near 
 Fort Stanwix, to Wood Creek, the eastern outlet of Oneida 
 Lake ; called, also, the Oneida, or Central Carrying-Place. 
 
 LINE 25. "For this St. Leger bowls his scorching sleet." 
 Brig. -Gen. Barry St. Leger commanded the besieging column 
 before Fort Stanwix. 
 
 LINE 53. " Those falls entrancing." The falls at Oohoes, 
 reputed to be before that Blue-Beard of utilitarianism, the 
 Erie Canal, caused such extensive depletions of their volume, 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTES. 173 
 
 the most considerable, as they still are, the most beautiful, 
 cascade in the State. 
 
 LINE 55. "Those in miniature." The "little falls," in 
 contradistinction to those at Cohoes. The town which stands 
 on the southern margin of the Mohawk at this point bears 
 the same name. 
 
 LINE 77. Gansevoort is a word of three syllables. 
 
 LINES 79-84. A moderate adulteration of error enters 
 into this version. Molly Brant who is thought by many to 
 have possessed as great ability as her brother was not the 
 actual bearer of the message, but had commissioned an agile 
 and trustworthy Mohawk to carry the intelligence from 
 Canajoharie. The vicarious manner in which the service 
 was performed does not seem to have in any way discounted 
 its value in the eyes of the British Government; who, for 
 this and other loyal acts, bestowed upon her an annuity of 
 100. 
 
 LIME 86. " My home-bred rangers." Butler's Rangers 
 can hardly be said to have existed as an independent organ- 
 ization at this early period. The close of the year, however, 
 found them a full-ranked, powerful corps. They could 
 not have been regulars, as their leader's name is absent from 
 the army lists of the time. 
 
 LINE 133." To Major Watts, our sorest casualty." 
 Major Watts was Sir John Johnson's brother-in-law ; and 
 had been sent forward by St. Leger, with a detachment of 
 " Johnson's Greens," to reinforce Thayendanegea and Butler. 
 
 LINES 141-150. There is an inversion of events pardon- 
 able, it is hoped confessed through these lines. Brant's 
 command, after the action at Oriskany, chastised the Oneidas 
 for acts of troublesome hostility perpetrated during the 
 field -operations ; and the Oneidas, as soon as the chieftain's 
 back was turned, revenged themselves on his defenceless 
 sister and her family. 
 
 LINES 158-66. General Herkimerdied as the consequence 
 of an amputation of his wounded leg. A monument has been 
 
174 EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
 
 erected at his burial place the grave being on the estate he 
 owned when his life was so tragically cut short. 
 
 FRAMEWORK OF SCENE 3. The author has met with 
 serious difficulty in bringing the principal actors in this 
 scene together, without a too flagrant flying in the face of 
 history. Stone declares that the affair transpired at the 
 " Cedars " on May 18th, 1776. It cannot be questioned that 
 Captain McKinstry attended there ; but as Thayendanegea 
 addressed the British Secretary of State, in person, on the 
 7th of May of that year, touching certain claims and 
 grievances of his tribe ; and, moreover having sailed from 
 England did not arrive at Staten, Island until the 5th of 
 August, the hypothesis of their meeting at the "Cedars" 
 need not be further canvassed. A localizing of the encounter 
 at Oriskany was next adventured ; but the author here 
 found himself confronted, in cold-blooded fashion, with the 
 roster of Provincial officers who participated in that engage- 
 ment, in which McKinstry's name did not appear. Captain 
 Cruikshank (who has been proved to be a fruitful burrower) 
 having placed Brant at Saratoga, a fixing of the event during 
 the contact at Stillwater apparently selects the least assail- 
 able position which was open to be assumed. The author 
 feels convinced that Thayendanegea, after some battle during 
 the Revolution, interposed to save his whilom friend from 
 a death by torture ; for the latter, at the conclusion of the 
 war, showed him peculiar consideration by reason of the 
 preservation so wrought. Ackland was in command of the 
 Grenadiers. It is the purest conjecture of the author that 
 his officers might have pooled their shillings to help purchase 
 the ox. 
 
 LINE 214. " Weston, swift-mustering quota of the guard." 
 Colonel Weston, or Wesson, was the commandant at Fort 
 Dayton (now Herkimer) in the German Flats. 
 
 LINE 275. Speaking of this incident Stone says : " The 
 eloquence and pathos with which she Mary (?) Schuyler 
 pleaded for the life of her son, were long remembered in the 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTES. 175 
 
 unwritten history of the Mohawk Valley." Mrs. Schuyler 
 (whose baptismal name Benton's " Herkimer County " gives 
 as Elizabeth Barbara) was a sister of General Herkimer. 
 To be accurate, Schuyler was sentenced to death before his 
 mother poured forth her supplication ; but hostile fact so 
 rearing its stockade the gymnast's flexileness was borrowed 
 to leap the pales. The author, with respect to the latitude 
 here taken, as well us in the matter of a few similar deflec- 
 tions, begs to be forgiven for letting dramatic license, as it 
 were, unwind the tourniquet which history beneficially 
 employs to check the would-be instructor's flow of unre- 
 liable or dubious statement. 
 
 LINES 296-8. " This seeming simpleton claims venera- 
 tion," etc. It may not be generally known that the 
 unenlightened savage invests the demented amongst them- 
 selves, as well as the whites, with supernatural gifts. 
 In reproducing the court-martial scene, and the ruse de 
 guerre to which the proceedings gave birth, there has been 
 a conscientious consulting of the claims of history. 
 
 FRAMEWORK OF SCENE 6. Susan Campbell is herself a 
 fictitious person, though there was a female delegate, or dele- 
 gates, actually authorized to wait upon Colonel Alden. 
 There was a numerous colony of Campbells in the settlement. 
 
 LINE 307. A traveller in the East states that, owing to 
 the great speed of the gazelle, it cannot be taken through 
 the unassisted instrumentality of dogs. The falcon requires 
 to be pressed into service ; and of the mode of chase, onset, 
 and capture our traveller presents a vivid picture. The 
 gazelles having been sighted, the falcons are let loose. 
 They immediately fasten themselves each one upon the 
 head of a separate animal and by a vigorous flapping of 
 their wings, and by pecking at the timid creature's eyes, 
 soon reduce it to such a state of confusion that it becomes an 
 easy prey for the hunters. 
 
 LINE 330. It was in no small degree owing to the opera- 
 tions of this ingenious Oneida ; who, engaging the assistance 
 
176 EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
 
 of several Indians of his acquaintance, used them as vehicles 
 to spread the tidings throughout the camp, that such com- 
 plete success attended Schuyler's enterprise. 
 
 LINES 366, 7. Schuyler's coat, to aid the deception, had 
 been riddled before leaving Fort Dayton. 
 
 LINE 381. On the 8th of November, Colonel Alden had 
 been warned that an attack by the Rangers and Indians 
 was imminent, but had scouted the intelligence as an idle 
 Indian rumor. He denied the solicitations of the people to 
 be permitted to transport themselves and their effects to 
 the fort, assuring them that their alarm was f oundationless, 
 and that his vigilant scouts would inform them of the first 
 approach of danger. 
 
 FRAMEWORK OF SCENE 7. The name of the female actor 
 not having been preserved, that given her is an invention of 
 the author. The true state of facts was that Thayendanegea, 
 having persuaded the woman to feign illness, remained until 
 after the departure of the Senecas ; and was, by this 
 expedient, able to divert their bloody purpose. He then 
 having first caused the intended victims to be marked with 
 his totem, the sign of a wolf withdrew. Coupled with 
 many well-authenticated instances of Brant's having either 
 conducted, or directed affrighted women to places of shelter, 
 an incident narrated by Stone comports happily with one's 
 notion of his considerateness. In 1780, a woman came to 
 General Van Rensselaer then having his headquarters at 
 Fort Hunter lamenting tearfully the loss of her infant, 
 which had been snatched from the cradle. The next morn- 
 ing an Indian warrior bounded into the room where the 
 General's officers were breakfasting, bearing an infant in 
 his arms, and also a letter from Brant, addressed "to the 
 commanding officer of the rebel army." The message, inter 
 alia, contained these words : " Sir, I send you, by one of my 
 runners, the child which he will deliver, that you may 
 know that whatever others may do, / do not make war upon 
 women and children. " 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTES. 177 
 
 NOTES TO ACT V. 
 
 FRAMEWORK OF SCKNE 1. The incident here utilized 
 is founded on undoubted fact. It should be noticed, how- 
 ever, in fuller elucidation of the occurrence, that the claimant 
 for protection and relief practised a shameless imposture upon 
 the chief, which was not discovered until afterwards. He 
 was not, in truth, a Freemason at all ; yet had, in some 
 unaccountable manner, got hold of the distress-signal. 
 Brant, though highly incensed over the perpetration of the 
 fraud, did not alter his conduct towards the delinquent, 
 There are other instances of Thayendanegea's having saved, 
 during the war, the lives of persons, who either claimed, or 
 were known, to belong to the craft. 
 
 FRAMEWORK OF SCENE 2. The Lieutenant Harper intro- 
 duced was an ancestor of the proprietors of Harper's 
 Magazine. 
 
 LINES 82-95. Brant-goose a species of wild goose. The 
 chief learnt of this challenge ; but at a time when it was in- 
 convenient to gratify the longings of its gasconading publisher. 
 
 LINES 122-7. Harper, to shield the settlement from attack, 
 palmed off a mendacious story upon Brant. There were, as 
 a fact, no regulars in any of the three forts. 
 
 FRAMEWORK OF SCENE 3. The author has, in this and 
 scene 4, capriciously identified John Mohawk (the name given 
 by Simms, in his "Frontiersmen of New York," to the sur- 
 vivor of the tragedy) with Canastota. He is free to admit 
 that to assimilate the tale of the four savages having been 
 dispatched by a single discharge of Pence's rifle his credulity 
 has been taxed in as rare degree, as that of most of 
 his readers is bound to be. The account, however, is 
 solemnly vouched for by Simms ; being supplemented only 
 by supposing the Indians to have been so couched before 
 the fire as to render the issue a trifle less improbable. 
 
 LINE 215. " To spiteful buffets from the gauntlet-files." 
 12 
 
178 EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
 
 To have secured the prisoners' absolute immunity from this 
 distressing ordeal was beyond the chief's power. 
 
 FRAME- WORK OF SCENE 7. The precise attitude assumed 
 by Brant in connection with the north-western disturbance, 
 is not easy to be arrived at ; though he seems, at first, to have 
 favored a recourse to energetic means to bring the thirteen 
 colonies to terms ; subsequently, however, receding from 
 that position. Stone says that he took part in the battle 
 in which St. Clair sustained such a calamitous defeat ; but 
 the author, noting the slender fabric of testimony upon 
 which his assertion rests some misty tradition in the 
 family boldly impugns its correctness. Campbell, in his 
 "Travels in North America" published in 1793 reports 
 that he paid a visit of several days to the chief, in the 
 winter (1792) following the disaster. Some of the reflections 
 indulged between them have a vital bearing on this specu- 
 lation. He says, " At the same time, I am convinced that 
 he" (Brant) " bears no good will to the American States; 
 and seems to be much rejoiced at the drubbing their troops 
 got from the Indians on the 4th of last November." Will any 
 candid intelligence maintain that this is the sort of reception 
 of the subject which would have been attested by one who 
 figured in propria persona in the fray ? Again, when toasts 
 were proposed: "Our first toasts were King, Queen, and 
 Prince of Wales ; and, next, to the brave fellows who drubbed 
 the Yankees ; all given by the landlord in regular pro- 
 gression." Does an individual, as a rule, join others in drink- 
 ing let alone pledge his own health in a toast ? 
 
 LINE 265. "As those their offshoots by St. Lawrence 
 found." The Caughnawagas and St. Regis, who many years 
 before had removed to the banks of the St. Lawrence, and 
 bore the appellation of the " seventh nation." 
 
 LINE 283. "Retains in pawn th' outlying fortresses." 
 Michillimackinac (Mackinaw) Oswegatchie (Ogdensburg) 
 Niagara, Oswego, and Presqu' He. 
 
 LINE 329. "As one deep-learned in warfare's subtleties." 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTES. 179 
 
 In addition to the pitched battles which have been depicted, 
 or touched upon in the text, Brant headed his Indians in the 
 memorable combat with General Sullivan at the Chemung, 
 in 1779 ; besides participating in several furious shocks a 
 number of sharp scrimmages during Sir John Johnson's 
 irruptions in 1780. 
 
 LINE 351. " Of my lace-pigment's being a true vermeil." 
 The ambassador fancied the chieftain wore a mask, while 
 he was merely plentifully smudged with paint. 
 
 LINE 378. " Long-Knives." A title given by the Indians 
 to the whites. 
 
 LINE 483. A modern romance, entitled "Bart the Hunter," 
 relates that Brant was set upon in the same way by his 
 son during the Revolutionary War. It should be added 
 that there is a conflict of evidence as to whether the 
 homicidal horror happened within doors, or in the open 
 air. Lord Dorchester refused to accept the surrender of 
 Brant's sword proffered to him immediately after its 
 commission. 
 
 FRAMEWORK OF SCENE 9. The author, impelled by a 
 dramatic necessity, has represented the son's death as having 
 been immediate, whereas the injury inflicted was not, in 
 itself, fatal. The victim, in the unhinged condition to which 
 he had been brought through indulgence in his habit, tore off 
 the bandages which had been applied to the wound, there- 
 by superinducing erysipelas. The author, anticipating 
 the objection that the dramatic unities are but question- 
 ably subserved by his using this scene as the climax to the 
 play, hopes, by a casual reminder, to weaken its force. 
 For his excuse if excuse be needed for introducing it, he 
 trusts to the terrific irony which was involved in the fact 
 of one, who had waged an unceasing warfare against the 
 enthralling curse of his people's addiction to liquor, becoming 
 even the approximate cause of the death of his own son, 
 whilst that son was under its influence, 
 
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